Liu Ketian, former deputy governor of northeast China's Liaoning Province, was sentenced by the Anshan Intermediate People's Court on Friday to 12 years imprisonment for accepting bribes.

The court said Liu received 1.32 million yuan (US$160,000) in illegal money from Xia Renfan, general manager of the Shenyang passenger transport corporation, in return for favors that helped the company obtain illegal profits on loans and taxes.

Liu pleaded guilty, and the money was returned.

(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2005)