Former official sentenced to death, with reprieve

A former official in Beijing has been sentenced to death with two year's probation for corruption and bribery, Mirror Evening News reported on Wednesday.

Li Zhu, former director of the capital's river and lake management department, received the sentence for embezzling 48 million yuan ($7.9 million) and accepting more than 11 million yuan in bribes, according to the newspaper.

Li, 59, accepted bribes 10 times, asking for cash, houses and luxury cars from 10 enterprises, said Beijing No 1 Intermediate People's Court, adding that Li also made use of his position for corruption.

The court said the amount of Li's corruption and bribery was huge and he should thus be given a heavier punishment as per Chinese Criminal Law, the report said.

However, Li surrendered and handed over part of illicit money after the case was uncovered, which the court said could be dealt with leniently, the report said.

Because of that, the court sentenced Li to the death penalty with a two-year reprieve, the report added.