Zhang Rushao, former secretary of the Communist Party of China in Heshan, Guangdong Province, has been sentenced to 14 1/2 years in prison for accepting bribes worth about 3.85 million yuan (US$475,000).

The Intermediate People's Court in Jiangmen City heard that Zhang was unable to identify the source of his assets totaling 4.71 million yuan over a span of 10 years starting in 1993. At that time, Zhang was deputy Party secretary of Kaiping City and in charge of affairs concerning rural and township enterprises.

Zhang was exposed due to a separate lawsuit filed in Hong Kong by his wife Hu Zhaoxiu in March 2004.

Hu sued a Hong Kong businessman for forging her signature to obtain a platinum credit card which led her to lose 4.76 million yuan. Zhang did not appeal the verdict.

(Shanghai Daily July 7, 2006)