Life sentence for corrupt Chinese highway official

A court in central China's Hunan Province sentenced a senior highway administration official to life in prison for taking bribes on Friday.

Feng Weilin, head of the provincial highway administration, together with his wife and younger sister, was charged with taking bribes worth 43.81 million yuan (7.1 million US dollars), the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Intermediate People's Court said in a verdict.

Feng was accused of taking advantage of his post to help others make personal gains in project distribution, equipment procurement, asset acquisition and staff assignment since 2000.

He was also fined 10 million yuan.

His sister, Feng Xia, and wife, Yi Xingling, were sentenced to 13 years and eight years in jail respectively.