Former Shanghai Communist Party Chief Chen Liangyu has chosen not to file an appeal to overturn his conviction for bribery and abuse of power.

The deadline for an appeal was Monday, and Chen did not raise a plea for retrial. It indicates the original sentence of 18 years, handed down on April 11, will be imposed.

His initial trial was held at the Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate People's Court.

The court also confiscated 300,000 yuan (about 42,860 U.S. dollars) of Chen's personal assets. The 61-year-old was a former member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and an ex-mayor of Shanghai.

Experts said bringing Chen to justice demonstrated the resolution of the CPC Central Committee to build a clean party, promote transparent governance and fight corruption.

According to the court ruling, Chen received 14 years and a 300,000 yuan fine for taking bribes and seven years for abuse of power. He was given 18 years jail and fined 300,000 yuan as the combined punishment for the two crimes.

(Xinhua News Agency April 22, 2008)