Former Chinese official gets death for bribery

HANGZHOU -- A former senior housing official in East China's Hangzhou city was sentenced Tuesday to death with a two-year reprieve for bribery and abuse of power.

Hangzhou Intermediate People's Court in Zhejiang province convicted Zhang Xin, former deputy head of the Hangzhou Housing Bureau, of taking bribes totaling 124 million yuan ($20 million), which included cash, cars and apartments, to seek benefits for others in construction projects.

Zhang was also found guilty of causing public asset losses worth 89 million yuan and embezzling 10.5 million yuan with another accused Dong Yilin.

The court ruled all Zhang's personal assets were to be confiscated. Dong was sentenced to 10 years in jail with two million yuan assets seized.