Han Shuming, former head of Changshou District, was convicted of accepting bribes worth 4.4 million yuan (USD 724,680) in Chongqing Municipality, according to the ruling by the Chongqing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court.
Han, 48, took advantage of his position and assisted with land leasing and construction contracts for two businessmen - surnamed Jiang and Li - in exchange for bribes between 2001 and 2013, according to a statement from the court.
Han's accomplice, Feng Binghui, was sentenced to five years in jail for taking bribes worth 900,000 yuan in the deals with the businessmen, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Over 20 government officials and executives of state- owned enterprises, including Han and former Communist Party chief of Chongqing's Beibei District Lei Zhengfu, were involved in the scandal.
Lei was later jailed for 13 years, and the six members of the extortion gang received jail terms ranging from 18 months to ten years in June.