Zhao Zhengyong, the sacked former Party Secretary of Shaanxi Province Photo: cnsphoto

Zhao Zhengyong, former Party secretary of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, was sentenced to the death penalty with reprieve on Friday after he was found to have accepted more than 717 million yuan ($102.4 million) in bribes. 

Zhao was given a two-year reprieve for his death penalty and deprived of political rights for life, with his personal property confiscated. After he finishes the two-year probation, his death penalty will be reduced to life imprisonment without commutation or parole, the First Intermediate People's Court of Tianjin ruled. 

Zhao said he would accept the court's decision without appeal. 

Between 2003 and 2018, Zhao took advantage of his various positions in Shaanxi and helped certain groups and individuals profit in matters such as project contracting, enterprise operation, job promotion and job transfer. 

He was prosecuted for taking bribes worth more than 717 million yuan, including 100 million yuan-worth in property and stocks. Over 290 million yuan of the total amount has not yet been obtained by Zhao, which has been classified as an attempted crime. 

As he confessed to the crimes, all of the bribes, properties and stock have been confiscated and frozen, he was given a lighter punishment, the court explained.