Wang Suyi, 53, former chief of the United Front Work Department in Inner Mongolia, was sentenced to life imprisonment for corruption and nepotism. Sources claim he pocketed more than US$ 15 million during his career. The conviction sets the stage for criminal trials currently underway involving other senior Communist Party officials.

Beijing (AsiaNews) - The First Intermediate People's Court in Beijing sentenced Wang Suyi, 53, to life imprisonment. The former chief of the Communist party's United Front Work Department in the northern region of Inner Mongolia was convicted of taking bribes.

Wang, who lost his job last year, is the first casualty in President Xi Jinping's campaign against the "tigers and flies "of corruption within the Communist Party. The campaign began soon after Xi came to power in March 2013.

The fallen Communist official was charged with taking more than 10 million yuan (.7 million) in bribes during his stay in office in exchange for promotions for junior officials and securing business deals for companies.

His conviction now sets the stage for the criminal trials involving 40 and more vice-ministerial or higher ranking officials currently under investigation for "violations of internal discipline," a euphemism used to indicate corruption in the party.

Sources told the South China Morning Post that Wang actually took more than 100 million yuan in bribes and boosted the career of at least 30 relatives.

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