Former Shanxi legislator sentenced to life for graft

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NANJING, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- A former senior legislator in north China's Shanxi Province was sentenced to life in prison for accepting bribes amounting nearly 124 million yuan (18.44 million U.S. dollars) by a court in Jiangsu Province on Friday.

Jin Daoming, former vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shanxi Provincial People's Congress, was also deprived of his political rights for life and all his personal assets were confiscated, according to a statement from Zhenjiang City Intermediate People's Court.

His ill-gotten gains must be turned over to the state, the court ruled.

Jin was found guilty of taking advantage of his positions to seek profits for others related to coal mine mergers, official promotions and discipline inspections between 2007 and 2014, it said.

The court issued a lesser punishment as Jin owned up to his crimes and voluntarily turned over his illicit gains.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China began an investigation into Jin in February 2014. His trial began in February.

Source: Xinhua, at: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-10/14/c_135754238.htm