Xiang Lili stands trial at the Liuzhou Intermediate People's Court of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on Nov 12, 2019. (Photo: China Daily)

Xiang Lili, former deputy director of the Standing Committee of the Hunan Provincial People's Congress, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for bribery on Friday.

Xiang was also fined 6 million yuan ($847,973). He pleaded guilty at court and said he would not file an appeal.

The Intermediate People's Court of Liuzhou city in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region made the ruling on Sunday.

It said Xiang used his positions from 2001 to 2018, including deputy director of the Standing Committee of Hunan People's Congress, vice-mayor of Changsha city in Hunan province, as well as chairman of Changsha Commercial bank and mayor and Party secretary of Hunan's Chenzhou, to offer benefits to relevant organizations and individuals in matters such as land development, project contracting and enterprise restructuring.

From September 2003 to January 2019, Xiang illegally received 66.67 million yuan from his beneficiaries, the court said.

The court said Xiang's actions constitute bribery and the amount is particularly large. In view of the fact Xiang confessed his crimes truthfully, pleaded guilty and returned all the bribes, he could be given a lighter punishment according to law, the court said.

Xiang was placed under investigation by China's top graft watchdogs in May last year for violating Party discipline and law. He was expelled from the Party and public posts and prosecuted for bribery last September.