Former Shanxi deputy governor given a life sentence

NANJING - Du Shanxue, former deputy governor of Shanxi province in north China, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for corruption, according to Xuzhou City Intermediate People's Court on Tuesday.

He was also deprived of his political rights for life, all his personal assets are to be confiscated and any profit from his wrongdoing turned over to the state. Du was unable to prove that 89.6 million yuan of family assets was acquired from legitimate sources.

He was found guilty of taking advantage of his positions between 2003 and 2013 in various areas for the benefit of several individuals and organizations.

Du, who was a member of the Standing Committee of the Shanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), accepted bribes totaling 80 million yuan (about $11.5 million) either personally or through a third party.

He also offered 100,000 euros (about $104,000) to Ling Zhengce, then vice chairman of Shanxi Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, for his endorsement in a CPC Shanxi Provincial Committee election in 2011.

The court in East China's Jiangsu province showed leniency as Du admitted his crimes, gave account of cases that were not found by investigators and voluntarily returned his profits.