Tax officials jailed for taking payoffs from Gome, others

Two Beijing tax officials have been convicted of taking bribes, including backhanders from the electronics retail chain owned by the country's former richest person, Huang Guangyu.

According to city media, Liang Conglin, former head of the inspection and enforcement sections of the Beijing State Taxation Bureau, was convicted of taking bribes totaling 2.91 million yuan at Beijing No 2 Intermediate Court. Among the payouts he pocketed was a 500,000-yuan bribe from Gome.

Liang was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Ling Wei, Liang's subordinate, was convicted of taking bribes totaling 2.81 million yuan, also including 500,000 yuan from Gome. He was sent to prison for 13 years, according to Beijing Youth Daily.