BEIJING - A former senior official of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region was convicted of taking bribes and sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday.

The First Intermediate People's Court of Beijing issued the verdict on Liu Zhuozhi, former vice-chairman of the autonomous region's government, after a trial in early June.

The court found that Liu had taken more than 8.17 million yuan ($1.29 million) in bribes between 2002 and 2010 while he was government head and Party chief of the Communist Party of China of Xilingol League in western Inner Mongolia as well as vice- chairman of the autonomous region's government.

In exchange for the bribes, Liu granted favors to 21 individuals and companies, in their business operations, mining credentials and promotions, according to the verdict.

The court deprived Liu of his political rights for life and confiscated all his personal assets.

Liu was given a lighter penalty because he confessed to his crimes and returned the illegal earnings, the court said.

Liu was removed from his official post and investigated for severe disciplinary violations in December 2010.

It is not known whether he will appeal.