Two corrupt officials in Gansu sentenced

LANZHOU - Local courts in Northwest China's Gansu province sentenced two officials to suspended death and life in prison for corruption on Thursday.

Shi Yong, former head of Jiuquan city urban construction bureau, received a death sentence with two years' reprieve for taking 50 million yuan ($8 million) in bribes, the biggest corruption case ever in the province, according to Baiyin city Intermediate People's Court.

Shi received gold bars and cash in various currencies to help with property project bids, construction projects and provide government approval.

His wife, Ru Xiuqin, was sentenced to three years imprisonment with four years' reprieve. She and her husband had accepted a gift of a mansion in Shanghai.

Also on Thursday, Lanzhou City Intermediate People's Court sentenced Yang Lin, former chairman of the Jiuquan Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, to life behind bars for taking 13.5 million yuan of bribes.

The defendants did not disclose whether they would file appeals.