Cao was convicted of taking bribes and dereliction of duty, according to the first instance hearing of the Beijing Municipal No. 1 Intermediate People's Court.

He was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on the graft charge and seven years in prison for dereliction of duty. All his personal property was confiscated and he has been deprived of his political rights for life, according to the verdict.

The court heard that Cao had taken bribes worth more than 2.4 million yuan (about US$315,700).

The court said Cao "sought benefits" for two pharmaceutical companies by approving their drugs and medical instruments during his tenure as head of the department of drug registration under the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) from 2003 to 2005.

The court said the death penalty was warranted given the "huge bribes involved, and his refusal to confess during the first hearing and reluctance to return the money."

However, as he provided evidence which helped with the investigation of other cases, he was given a two-year reprieve.

Earlier reports said that the evidence provided by Zheng Xiaoyu's subordinates led to the investigation of their former boss, who was sentenced to death in May at the Beijing Municipal No. 1 Intermediate People's Court.

But Zheng has asked the court of second instance to reconsider his sentence as the penalty is "too severe".

Cao, one of Zheng Xiaoyu's former secretaries, has been under investigation since January.

Hao Heping, also one of Zheng's former secretaries, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on corruption charges in November last year.