The former chief judge of China's Hunan Higher People's Court was sentenced to death at a trial in Beijing yesterday for accepting millions of yuan worth of bribes, Xinhua news agency reported today.

Beijing's No. 2 Intermediate People's Court said Wu Zhenhan took bribes worth over 6 million yuan (US$759,500) from 1998 to 2003. Wu reportedly accepted some of the bribes via his wife and son. Both of them are considered accomplices, Xinhua said.

The court said Wu is guilty of accepting bribes and taking advantage of his position. However, since Wu confessed to all the crimes, he was given a two-year suspension on his death penalty.

Wu has returned most of the illicit money and properties, the court said.

Some earlier media reports said the former deputy chief of Changsha Intermediate People's Court, which is affiliated with the Hunan higher court, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for bribing Wu to get a promotion.

In accordance with China's criminal procedural law, Wu is entitled to appeal at Beijing People's Higher Court.

The Supreme People's Court is currently framing nation-wide criteria on punishments for bribery.

(Shanghai Daily November 10, 2006)