Another former senior railway official has been sentenced to "death with a two year reprieve" on charges of taking bribes worth of over 47 million yuan ($7.68 million).

The Beijing No.2 Intermediate People's Court also deprived Zhang Shuguang, former head of the now defunct Railway Ministry's transportation bureau and deputy chief engineer, of political rights for life and confiscated all his property. 

According to the court, Zhang took bribes worth more than 47 million yuan from 14 companies between 2000 and 2011, when he was serving in a variety of positions in the ministry.

In particular, some 18.5 million yuan was offered by Wuhan Zheng Yuan Railway Electric Co Ltd under the guise of real estate purchases and membership applications to the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

In exchange, Zhang would help with contracts related to the sale of trains or parts and the bidding of projects, according to the court.