Chen Jixing, former vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on Tuesday for illegally accepting money and property worth over 278 million yuan ($38.4 million).

Chen, 70, was also deprived of political rights for life and had all his personal property confiscated during a trial at the Guilin Intermediate People’s Court in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

The court found him guilty of accepting bribes and using his influence for personal gain.

According to the court, from 2002 to 2017, Chen abused his positions as Party secretary of Jiangmen, Guangdong, and vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial People’s Congress to help companies and individuals procure real estate projects and land transfers.

Chen also improperly assisted people with loan approvals, project promotions, subsidy applications and other matters by taking advantage of the positions, the court said.

Between 2003 and 2020, he illegally accepted over 278 million yuan in money and goods from various individuals in return.

As he confessed to his crimes, voluntarily disclosed bribery activities unknown to the investigating authorities, provided leads that helped solve other cases and returned his ill-gotten gains, the court said it opted to punish him more leniently.