ZHENGZHOU, Feb. 10 -- A Party official in central China's Henan Province was sentenced to life in prison for corruption, a local court said Monday.

Chen Jianghe, former executive deputy secretary general of the Henan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), was convicted of taking bribes, possessing large amounts of unexplained property, and abuse of power, according to a statement issued by the Nanyang City Intermediate People's Court.

The statement did not disclose the date of the ruling.

Chen, 60, was convicted of taking bribes of more than 7.26 million yuan (1.2 million U.S. dollars) and 8,000 U.S. dollars in cash, 91,000 yuan in shopping cards and five wrist watches worth of 315,900 Hong Kong dollars each from 1995 to 2011, when he served as secretary of the CPC Renqi County Committee, secretary general of the CPC Kaifeng City Committee, and secretary general of the CPC Henan Provincial Committee, said the statement.

Chen was also found guilty of faking legal documents to help his lover(s), family members and friends to buy nine apartments at below-market prices, saving a total of 1.93 million yuan for them, it said.

Chen said after the ruling that he would file an appeal.