Wu Zhen, a former senior official of China’s drug watchdog, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for taking bribes and abusing power.

Former senior official of China’s drug watchdog Wu Zhen. (Photo: People's Daily)

The sentence was handed down by a court in Chengdu, capital city of Southwest China’s Sichuan Province on Friday. Wu also faces a fine of 1 million yuan ( $142,000). 

Court files show the 61-year-old was accused of accepting bribes worth more than 21 million yuan as head of the food and drug administration in East China’s Jiangxi Province and deputy director of the state food and drug administration. 

In August, 2018, China’s top anti-corruption body announced Wu was under investigation, five months after his retirement.

(Compiled by Chen Lidan)