Ji Jianye stands trial in the Yantai Intermediate People's Court in Shandong Province, April 7, 2015. [Photo/weibo.com]

Ji Jianye, the former mayor of Nanjing, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Yantai Intermediate People's Court in Shandong province on Tuesday for?accepting bribes.

Ji?took 11.32 million yuan (US$1.8 million) in bribes between 1999 and 2012 directly or through relatives and friends, from seven people and organizations in exchange for help in obtaining construction project contracts and job transfers, the Yantai Intermediate People's Court said on its Sina Weibo microblog.

Authorities have also confiscated property worth 2 million yuan from the former mayor, who was nicknamed "Bulldozer Ji" for his relentless promotion of construction projects in his city.

Ji's wife, some mistresses, a driver and some real estate developers who had close relationships with Ji have also been taken for investigation.