Cai Haowen, a former government official in northeast China's Jilin Province, was sentenced to 17 years' jail by a local court on Sunday morning after being found guilty of embezzling public money to gamble abroad and of taking bribes.     

Cai, once a transportation management official of the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, embezzled more than 3.18 million yuan (US$385,000) and used the money for gambling in overseas casinos, the court found.
   
His personal property was also confiscated.
   
Cai fled after his scandal was exposed last November, but was captured on February 6.

He was put onto the most wanted list by the Ministry of Public Security on February 3 after a nationwide crackdown on gambling was launched targeting officials.

(Xinhua News Agency May 9, 2005)