Jail for luxuries official

A JIANGSU Province court yesterday sentenced a government official, dubbed "super-expensive-cigarette director," to 11 years jail for taking bribes.

Zhou Jiugeng, former real estate management bureau director in Nanjing's Jiangning District was convicted of accepting 1.07 million yuan (US$156,740) and HK$110,000 in bribes from contractors, businesses and officials. The court also confiscated 1.2 million yuan of his personal property.

Zhou, sacked late last year for his irresponsible remarks and luxurious lifestyle, had his indulgences exposed by Internet postings of photos showing him wearing a Vacheron Constantin watch, which costs at least 100,000 yuan in China, and a pack of Nanjing 95 Imperial cigarettes, costing 150 yuan a pack, sitting in front of him during a meeting.

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