Ex-security chief 's wife, son jailed

Zhou Yongkang's family members given a total of 27 years by court in Hubei

The son and the wife of former security chief Zhou Yongkang were sentenced to prison terms on Wednesday, according to verdicts issued by a court in Hubei province.

The son, Zhou Bin, 44, was sentenced to 18 years for taking bribes and for illegal business operations, the verdict said.

He was fined 350.2 million yuan ($53 million) and all of his illegally obtained assets were ordered to be confiscated.

Zhou Bin and Zhou Yongkang sought benefits for others by taking advantage of Zhou Yongkang's posts, and accepted property worth 98 million yuan, the verdict, issued by Yichang Intermediate People's Court, said.

Zhou Bin also used his father's influence to obtain advantages for others through officials, and accepted property worth 124 million yuan.

Zhou Yongkang was a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee from 2007 to 2012.

Hours before the verdict on Zhou Bin, Jia Xiaoye, 48, Zhou Yongkang's wife and Zhou Bin's stepmother, was imprisoned for nine years for taking bribes, according to a verdict issued by the same court.

Jia, Zhou Yongkang's second wife, was also fined 1 million yuan.

Earlier reports said Jia, a former editor at China Central Television, married Zhou Yongkang "around 2001".

Neither Zhou Bin nor Jia will appeal, according to a statement issued by the court after the trial.

In July 2014, the CPC Central Committee announced that it had decided to place Zhou Yongkang under investigation. He was expelled from the Party in December that year.

On June 11 last year, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for accepting bribes, abuse of power and deliberately disclosing State secrets.

Wednesday's verdicts came six months after President Xi Jinping issued a warning of "cabals and cliques" in the Party, and reiterated the nation's determination to press ahead with the fight against corruption.

Zhou Yongkang was reported to have formed several networks in the sectors he was in charge of, including law enforcement organs and State-owned enterprises such as China National Petroleum Corp.

Reuters and Xinhua contributed to this story.

(China Daily 06/16/2016 page1)