Yang Chenglin, former chair of the Bank of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, was sentenced to death with a stay of execution for two years, on Friday in the Intermediate People's Court in Inner Mongolia's Baotou City.

Former chair of the Bank of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Yang Chenglin. (Photo: People's Daily)

Prosecutors said Yang began soliciting bribes in 2000, while chairing the Hohhot Commercial Bank, which became the Bank of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2003. The bribes taken directly by Yang or through his son and mistress are alleged to total 307 million yuan ($0.45 million). He is also accused of embezzling nearly 300 million yuan.