Wang Yixin, former deputy governor of Heilongjiang province, was sentenced to life imprisonment for taking bribes totaling 129 million yuan ($17.9 million) on Friday, the Intermediate People's Court of Heze city in Shandong province announced.

The court also deprived his political rights for life, confiscated all his personal assets and ordered that all of his illicit gains and related interests be turned over to the State treasury.

According to the court, Wang took advantage of his various positions from 2008 to 2020 to help companies and people in such matters as business contracting, land development and promotion of positions.

He accepted property and money totaling over 129 million yuan directly or through other people.

"The circumstances of his offenses were extremely serious and the amount of his bribes was extremely large, bringing great damage to public assets as well as the interests of the country and the people," the court said. "Considering he confessed to the crimes, informed investigators of some bribery facts they were unaware of and voluntarily returned his illicit gains, we've leniently penalized him".