In yet another high profile corruption case in China, a former mayor of southern city of Shenzhen on Monday given a suspended death sentence for bribery.
A court in central China's Henan Province has sentenced 56-year-old Xu Zongheng to death with a two-year reprieve for taking bribes. The court also ordered confiscation of Xu's personal assets and stripped him of his political rights.
The court said Xu accepted more than 33.18 million yuan (about USD 5.1 million) in bribes from building material companies and lower-ranking officials between 2001 and 2009 when he served in several high-ranking government positions in Shenzhen.
The court verdict said Xu had abused his power and sought profits by helping nine units or individuals change land development plans, win construction project contracts or seek promotion, official Xinhua news agency reported.