Former senior economic planning official sentenced to life in prison

A Chinese court sentenced former senior economic planning official Liu Tienan to life imprisonment on Wednesday.

The former deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission and former head of the National Energy Administration, was convicted of bribery by the Langfang Intermediate People's Court in north China's Hebei Province.

Liu has been stripped of his political rights for life and all personal property and wealth will be confiscated.

The court ruled that Liu had accepted bribes of 35.58 million yuan (5.8 million U.S. dollars) from 2002 to 2012, personally or through his son Liu Decheng.

He was found guilty of abuse of power by securing profits for four companies -- including Nanshan Group, a chemical firm based in east China's Shandong Province, Zhongjin Petrochemical Co. Ltd. based in east China's Zhejiang Province, GAC Group in south China's Guangdong Province and Zhejiang Hengyi Group Co. Ltd. -- as well as several individuals.

The court confirmed that all the dirty money amassed by Liu had been returned to the state.

Liu's trial closed in September but it took until Wednesday for the court to deliver its verdict.