Li Zhen, former head of the tax department of north China's Hebei Province, lost his appeal and had his death sentence upheld by the provincial higher people's court in an open final trial in Tangshan on Thursday.

Li was given a death penalty on Aug. 30, 2002 at the trial of first-instance by the Tangshan Municipal Intermediate People's Court.

Li was found to have taken bribes worth more than 8.14 million yuan (US$980,700) and embezzled over 2.7 million yuan worth of cash and properties from three companies.

After the first trial, Li appealed to the Hebei Provincial Higher People's Court. The court insisted that the first court verdict was given well in compliance with the criminal law of China and Li could not be given a lesser punishment with such serious crimes.

The final sentence still has to be submitted to the National Supreme People's Court for examination and approval, court sources said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2003)