Wen failed to account for the sources of more than 10 million yuan in personal assets.

He also had all his personal property seized and was deprived of his political rights for life.

Wen was the highest ranking official to fall in last year's massive crackdown on organized crime in Chongqing. More than 90 local officials were prosecuted and 42 were found guilty of sheltering criminal gangs.

On Friday the higher court also rejected appeals of four other appellants convicted and sentenced in the same case. They were Wen's wife, Zhou Xiaoya, and three former police officers: Huang Daiqiang, Zhao Liming and Chen Tao.

Wen's wife Zhou Xiaoya was jailed for eight years after being convicted of taking advantage of her husband's official position and taking bribes totaling 4.49 million yuan with Wen.

Huang was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment after being found guilty of offering and taking bribes, protecting criminal gangs and concealing his illegal gains.

Chen was jailed for 19 years and six months after being convicted of offering and taking bribes and being involved in criminal gangs.

Zhao Liming faces 17 years and six months in jail for offering and taking bribes, involvement in criminal gangs and embezzlement.

In a related development, the municipal bureau of public security told Xinhua that a 37-year-old man had been arrested after he threatened, in a phone call to the higher court on May 14, to take revenge on judges hearing Wen's case if the appeal was rejected.

The man, named Zhou Tao, was a native of Jiangbei district of Chongqing. Police are continuing to investigate the threat.