Former senior official Ling given life in prison for bribery

Ling Jihua, a former State-level official, was sentenced to life in prison for taking bribes totaling 77.08 million yuan ($11.6 million), illegally obtaining State secrets and abusing power, a court ruling said on Monday.

Ling, 59, former vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, pleaded guilty and decided not to appeal, a court video broadcast by China Central Television showed on Monday.

"I accept all the charges and submit to the judgment," Ling said in his final statement. "Today's trial will be engraved in my memory."