A senior police officer in Qingdao, Shandong province, accepted bribes worth 2.76 million yuan ($444,000) and helped a gangster to escape justice, a court has heard.

Shan Guowei, the former police chief in the city's Shinan district, was sentenced to 20 years in prison and fined 500,000 yuan on Monday for providing protection to a mafia-style gang.

The gang, led by Nie Lei, was broken up in September 2010. Nie was executed in September 2013 after being convicted of organizing prostitution, smuggling guns and causing injury.

Shan accepted a bronze work of art from Liu Fengyu, Nie's deputy, in a tea house in November 2007, according to police.

The market value of the bronze was estimated at 300,000 yuan, according to a report on the WeChat account of the People's Procuratorate of Shandong.

Liu, at Nie's instigation, asked Shan to help Liu Fengguo, a gang member who was charged with killing a man in a fight in November 1997, obtain bail.

With Shan’s help, Liu Fengguo was granted bail, and went on the run. He remained at large until all the members of the gang were seized in 2010.

Liu Fengguo was sentenced to 13 years in prison in March 2012 by the Qingdao Intermediate People's Court.

According to a previous report, 53 officials were involved in the gang's crimes. Many worked in the city's political and legal departments.

Monday's verdict said Shan abused his powers and asked the boss of a property developer to sell him two houses at less than the market price, saving him more than 2.58 million yuan.

In addition, Shan took bribes from his subordinates and helped them to gain promotions, according to the verdict.