CHONGQING - A court in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Friday sentenced Li Tangtang, former vice chairman of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, to life imprisonment for taking bribes.

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The No.5 Intermediate People's Court of Chongqing Municipality also ordered the confiscation of the former official's personal assets and stripped him of his political rights for life.

Li was found guilty of accepting 7.68 million yuan (US$1.17 million) in bribes from auto companies, real estate developers and individuals from 1998 to 2009.

Li abused his power to help 14 units and individuals to win land and construction project contracts, or find jobs when he served as a high-ranking official in northwest Shaanxi Province, the court said.

Li had successively held official posts, including deputy Party chief and vice mayor of Baoji City, Party Chief and mayor of Xianyang City and vice governor of Shaanxi Province from 1998 to 2008. He took office as vice chairman of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in May 2008.

According to the verdict, Li received a lighter sentence because he confessed to his crimes and returned part of the illegal gains.

It is not yet known whether he will appeal the verdict.

Li had already been stripped of his official post and Communist Party of China (CPC) membership for corruption, according to a statement released by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on March 1.