The former Party secretary of Nanchang County in eastern Jiangxi Province was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for taking bribes and causing huge losses to the state, local media reported today.

The Jiangxi Provincial Higher People' Court said Tang Chengqi had taken bribes worth more than 39 million yuan (US$ 6.15million) between 1991 and 2009.

Tang collaborated with Zhang Xiaohua, former Party secretary of Hufang Town, Luo Hui, former police chief of Sanghai District of Nanchang City, and Xu Guowen who acted as legal person of three portfolio companies. Together they helped real estate developers and construction contractors to win bids and government fund in exchange for bribes.

Prosecutors said Zhang, Luo and Xu took bribes of 47.1 million, 24.8 million and 23.5 million yuan respectively.

Tang was accused of abusing his power when he headed the management board of the Nanchang Economic Development Zone and causing economic losses totaling 283.6 million yuan.

Zhang was also sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve; Luo received a life sentence and Xu was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Tang's wife also received a three-year sentence for involvement in the case.