A former secretary-general of Fujian provincial committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) received a life sentence Monday for taking huge bribes.

The sentence was handed down to Chen Shaoyong by the Intermediate People's Court of Nanjing, capital of eastern Jiangsu Province.

Chen was also deprived of his political right for life and his personal properties confiscated, according to the court verdict.

He was convicted of illegally taking properties worth of 8.19 million yuan (1.2 million U.S.dollars), abusing his official posts as secretary-general and member of the standing committee of the provincial committee of the CPC from November 1992 to May 2008, the verdict said.

In return for the properties, he helped 11 work units in their business operations and helped 15 individuals with career promotion, it said.

During investigation, Chen returned all the bribes and confessed to some crimes that has not been officially looked into, it said.