Li Dachang, former vice governor of southwest China's Sichuan Province, was sentenced on Tuesday to a seven-year jail term after being convicted of abuse of office. 

The Beijing No.1 Intermediate People's Court heard that Li had been appointed head of a team assigned to resolve a contract dispute for a power station project in Uganda.

The post included responsibility for a fund to meet compensation claims related to the project.

From December 1999 to January 2000, Li was persuaded by Cong Gang and An Guosheng to give money from the fund to China Sichuan International Cooperation Co Ltd.

Li breached the fund management guidelines set by the State Council and violated the Sichuan provincial law by concealing the expenditure and fraudulently withdrawing funds.

Cong and An spent the money, running up losses of US$5.05 million, of which approximately US$1.2 million was later recovered.

The judges found that Li, in his capacity as a civil servant, was guilty of fraud for personal gain, resulting in the serious loss of state assets.

Li was one of the 10 provincial-level officials who were given sentences for corruption and power abuse in recent years.

(Xinhua News Agency April 5, 2006)