Ex-head of automaker jailed for bribery

The former head of China's major automaker has been sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison for bribery, a Beijing court announced on Thursday.

Beijing No 1 Intermediate People's Court sentenced Xu Jianyi, the former chairman of FAW Group Corp, and ordered the confiscation of a list of his personal properties.

Between 2000 and 2013, Xu, the former Communist Party of China chief of Jilin city in Northeast China's Jilin province, accepted bribes in return for using his position in government and enterprise to benefit others, the court said.

For example, Xu accepted bribes from Zhang Qiang, the former head of a transport company in Jilin city, after helping him promote and operate business during the period, it said.

Xu accepted bribes totaling more than 12.19 million yuan ($1.78 million), it added.

"Xu is guilty of bribery, but we gave him a lenient sentence because he confessed to his crimes and gave us information we were not previously aware of," the court said in its judgment.

Xu pleaded guilty and expressed remorse in September, and his illicit properties have been confiscated, it added.

He was placed under investigation for corruption on March 15 and expelled from the Party in August, according to the country's top anti-graft watchdog.

The State-owned FAW Group was founded in 1953 and employs 120,000 people worldwide, selling products in more than 70 countries.

Since 2012, the central leadership has focused on cracking down on graft, saying that its campaign should cover all industries.

Last month, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the country's top anti-graft authority, reiterated its desire to fight corruption with "zero tolerance", adding that anti-graft measures will be further enhanced.