Ai Wenli, a former Chinese provincial political advisor, was sentenced to eight years in prison Thursday for taking bribes worth over 64.78 million yuan (9.66 million U.S. dollars).

Ai, former vice chairman of the Hebei Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, was also fined 3 million yuan, and his illegal gains will be turned in to the national treasury, according to the sentence by a court in the city of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province.

The court found that between 2005 and 2013, Ai had taken advantage of his various posts to provide help in enterprise restructuring, project development and personnel arrangements to certain companies and individuals.

In return, he accepted gifts and money worth over 64.78 million yuan, either on his own or through some "specific affiliated persons" between 2006 and 2014, the court said in a statement.

Ai said he accepts the sentencing and will not appeal.

Wu Wanjiang, deputy head of the court, said in an interview after the sentencing that the court handed down the sentence while taking into consideration the facts that Ai had voluntarily turned himself in before the authorities got clear information about his violations, confessed and showed repentance. He had been cooperative in returning his illegal gains and preventing and reducing further damage.

Ai turned himself into the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission in June 2018.

According to Wu, the National Supervisory Commission suggested leniency in Ai's penalty while it transferred his case to the prosecutors.

Wu said the trial of Ai followed procedure according to the revised Criminal Procedure Law which also provides leniency to defendants who pled guilty and expressed acceptance to any due punishment.

The court statement said Ai's case will be taken as an example in handling further corruption-related cases. 

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