Former vice-mayor sentenced to death

Former Beijing vice-mayor Liu Zhihua has been sentenced to death, suspended for two years, for corruption, local media reported yesterday, citing a Saturday court ruling.

Liu, 59, was charged with taking bribes of about 6.97 million yuan ($1 million) when he was vice-mayor of Beijing and director of the management committee of Zhongguancun Science Park from 1999 to 2006, according to Hengshui intermediate people's court in Hebei province.

The bribes were pocketed by Liu and his mistress Wang Jianrui, the court said in the verdict, adding that Liu abused his power to secure project contracts, loans and promotions for others.