Inner Mongolia former official sentenced to 17 years in jail for corruption

HOHHOT -- Du Juanshi, former deputy director of the industry and commerce bureau of north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for taking bribes and embezzlement of public funds, a local court said Wednesday.

Du embezzled a total of 18.92 million yuan ($2.74 million) when he was working as Party chief of the Urad Rear Banner in the city of Bayannur and in other important positions of the city, said the Intermediate People's Court of the city of Hulunbuir.

Du also took bribes of 21.15 million yuan and lent government expenses totaling 10 million yuan to others in his own name for profitable activities, according to the court.

The court sentenced Du to 17 years of imprisonment for crimes of graft, embezzlement and bribery. He was also fined 2.5 million yuan.