Ling Zhengce, a former senior political advisor of north China's Shanxi Province, has been sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison for taking bribes, according to Changzhou City Intermediate People's Court on Friday.

Ling, former vice chairman of the Shanxi Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, was found guilty of taking advantage of his posts to offer help for others in project examinations and approval, business operations and promotions between 2001 and 2014.

Ling accepted bribes worth over 16.07 million yuan (about 2.3 million U.S. dollars) either personally or through his son. He was fined 1.5 million yuan, and his illegal gains must be turned over to the state, the court ruled.

The court in east China's Jiangsu Province showed leniency as Ling admitted his crimes, gave account of cases that were not found by investigators and voluntarily turned over his profits.

source: Xinhua