BEIJING
A former Communist Party of China chief in a city in southwestern Sichuan Province has been handed a 16-year jail sentence for corruption.
State news agency Xinhua reported Monday that Xu Mengjia, a former Party secretary in Ya'an municipal committee, was found guilty by a court in Dazhou city, the local government confirmed over the weekend.
Xu was charged with taking bribes worth 5.5 million yuan ($898,000) from several companies from 2009 to 2013, and helping others obtain benefits by taking advantage of his position. He was convicted of abusing his power in numerous land development projects.
Xu was employed in Ya'an from June 2006 until his removal from his post in mid-November 2013.
In April 2013, a 7.0-magnitude quake struck the city and left 196 people dead and thousands wounded.
Chinese President Xi Jinping launched an anti-corruption campaign last year.
The drive has seen dozens of senior officials, including those of ministerial rank, penalized for corruption.
