Wang Yingfu, former deputy director of the Land and Resources Department in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, was sentenced to life imprisonment for graft on Thursday.

Wang, 55, was found guilty of taking bribes totaling more than 2.7 million yuan (US$340,000). He also failed to account for another 8.8 million yuan (US$1.1 million), US$159,028, 3,200 euros and 110,849 yen.

The money was confiscated.

The first ruling was conducted by the Intermediate People's Court of Zhongwei city of Ningxia on Jan. 19.

Wang appealed to the Higher People's Court of Ningxia, but his appeal was rejected.

(Xinhua News Agency February 16, 2007)