Former finance vice-minister gets 15 years for graft

Zhang Shaochun, a former vice-minister of finance, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by a Beijing court on Monday for taking bribes of about 67 million yuan ($9.7 million).

Zhang, 61, was also fined 6 million yuan for the same charge, according to a judgment announced by the Beijing No 2 Intermediate People's Court.

The bribes accepted by Zhang, as well as related profits, would be turned over to the State treasury, the court ruled.