A former senior housing official in Shanghai was sentenced to life in prison for taking over 10 million yuan in bribes, a local court said Thursday.

Tao Xiaoxing, former vice director of the municipal housing support and building administration, was convicted of taking 10.45 million yuan (1.6 million U.S. dollars) in bribes from 1998 to 2010, the Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate People's Court said in its verdict.

The 60-year-old accepted the bribes in the form of cash and watches from several companies, including a property developer, to help them acquire land, it said.

The court's verdict also stated that Tao will have all of his personal assets confiscated and that he will be deprived of his political rights for life.

Tao was detained in November last year.