The former deputy head of the Guangzhou Municipal Health Bureau, Qiu Chunlei, was sentenced to 13 years in prison by the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court for taking bribes of 4.15 million yuan ($675,000) from his mistress and a relative.

Qiu, 51, was accused of using his position to help his mistress, Cao Shujun, profit from selling medical equipment to local governments.

Qiu was investigated for taking bribes on Jan 9 and was arrested by the local procuratorate on Jan 23, according to the Guangzhou Discipline Inspection Committee.

The court took charge of hearing the case earlier this month.

According to Southern Metropolis Daily, based in Guangzhou, Qiu met Cao in 2005 and soon began an affair with her. Through Qiu's political network, Cao got to know many directors of health bureaus in Guangzhou's districts, including Huadu, Zengcheng and Conghua.

It is claimed that Cao took illegal profits estimated at 45 million yuan from local government medical equipment procurement bidding.

Cao bribed local officials, and split her profits with Qiu.

Besides taking money from Cao, Qiu also took bribes of 50,000 yuan from a relative by arranging work in a hospital for the relative's son.

The court found Qiu guilty of taking bribes, confiscated personal property worth 2.1 million yuan and recovered illegally obtained money of 4.15 million yuan. Qiu said he wished to appeal.