Former Chinese presidential aide sentenced to life in prison for corruption

China: Ling Jihua, 59 who served as a top aide to former Chinese President Hu Jintao, has been sentenced to life in prison by a court in the northern port city of Tianjin, in one of a high profile corruption cases in the country's anti-corruption campaign, after he was convicted of accepting bribes, stealing state secrets and abusing his office.

Prosecutors accused Ling of accepting more than 77 million yuan ($11 million) in bribes either directly or through his family members, and also illegally obtaining a large amount of state secrets and using his official position to help get people promoted and acquire homes.

Ling, whose then position was equivalent to the White House chief of staff, was arrested in the summer of 2015 and tried in a closed-door court in June.

Other reports claimed that that Ling was brought down because he led a rogue faction within the ruling communist party."