The former chairman of the China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec Corp.) Chen Tonghai was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for taking huge bribes by the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court Wednesday.

All his political rights were deprived for life and all his personal property confiscated, according to the court.

The court said, Chen took about 195.73 million yuan (28.66 million US dollars) in bribes from 1999 to June 2007 taking advantage of his positions as deputy general manger of the China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec Group), general manager of the Sinopec Group, deputy chairman of the Sinopec Corp. and chairman of the Sinopec Corp..

In return, he helped others seek illegal interests in enterprises operation, land transfers and project contracts, according to the court.

Given that Chen had confessed and turned in all the bribes he had taken, admitted his crimes and provided clues on others' crimes, the court sentenced him to death with a two-year reprieve according to law, according to court sources.

(Xinhua News Agency July 15, 2009)