A former work safety supervisor in central China's Henan Province has been sentenced to life imprisonment for demanding and taking bribes, a local court said Thursday.

According to the verdict handed down by the Intermediate People's Court of Shangqiu City, Li Jiucheng, former head of the provincial work safety administration, took 19.5 million yuan (2.87 million U.S. dollars) in bribes, of which 17.17 million yuan he demanded.

Li did not appeal within 15 days after the verdict at the first instance trial was given on June 8, the court said.

Li, who had also headed the provincial bureau of coal mine safety supervision, was accused of seeking improper interests for people who bribed him.

Li was also deprived of political rights for life, and all of his assets were confiscated, according to the verdict.

He was put under discipline investigation by local anti-graft authorities in February 2008, and officially arrested in January 2009.