The former head of the transportation bureau in Lanzhou, Gansu province, was sentenced to life imprisonment for taking more than 10 million yuan ($1.6 million) of bribes, Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday.

The Lanzhou Intermediate People's Court handed down the ruling of first instance on Tuesday. According to the report, Yan Chenglu launched a taxi company in 2009 and controlled a 51 percent stake in the firm when he was still in office. He quit the company in 2011 and received 7.2 million yuan, part of which he lent to a real estate company for high interest. The money he received by abusing his power amounted to 10.34 million yuan.

Yan said on Tuesday he would appeal the ruling.