Chinese court on Tuesday jailed the former chief internet regulator, Lu Wei, for 14 years, having found the once <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-says-missing-interpol-chief-accepted-bribes-170167">influential official guilty </a>of taking bribes worth almost $5 million.

Lu, one of the numerous senior officials caught up in President Xi Jinping's sweeping anti-graft campaign, had already been expelled from the ruling Communist Party, which tightly controls the courts.

At the height of his influence, Lu, a colourful and often brash official by Chinese standards, was seen as emblematic of pervasive internet controls, although his downfall has not brought a reversal of those policies.

The court, in the eastern city of Ningbo, said in a statement that Lu had accepted the verdict and would not appeal.

Lu, 59, pleaded guilty in October after prosecutors had accused him of abusing his power in various government posts over 15 years, including as the head of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC).

Between 2002 and 2017, he received illicit assets from government units or individuals worth more than $4.77 million, the court said in the statement.

He had "shown repentance" and "actively returned" most of the money and property, it added.

Reuters could not reach Lu in jail to seek comment, and it is unclear who acts as his lawyer.

Lu worked his way up through China's official Xinhua news agency before becoming head of propaganda in Beijing and then moving to internet work in 2013. He became a deputy propaganda minister after being replaced at the internet regulator.

Under Lu, the regulator did not carry out Xi's instructions in a timely or resolute fashion, China's anti-corruption watchdog has said.

The government blocks websites it deems a challenge to party rule or a threat to stability, from foreign social media platforms and news outlets to sites such as Google's main search engine and Gmail service.

Organisers of China's first World Internet Conference in 2014, set up under Lu to promote Beijing's vision of internet governance, irked foreign tech firms by seeking their agreement on a last-minute declaration on "internet sovereignty".

Tech industry representatives declined to sign, and rights groups condemned it as a bid to undermine internet freedom.

When Lu visited Facebook Inc's U.S. campus in 2014, he was greeted in Mandarin by Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of the social networking site that has long been blocked in China, a Chinese government website has said.

Lu had vociferously defended China's internet curbs.

In 2015, he told reporters: "Indeed, we do not welcome those that make money off China, occupy China's market, even as they slander China's people. These kinds of websites I definitely will not allow in my house."

Chinese court on Tuesday jailed the former chief internet regulator, Lu Wei, for 14 years, having found the once influential official guilty of taking bribes worth almost $5 million.

Chinese court on Tuesday jailed the former chief internet regulator, Lu Wei, for 14 years, having found the once influential official guilty of taking bribes worth almost $5 million. Lu, one of the numerous senior officials caught up in President Xi Jinping's sweeping anti-graft campaign, had already been expelled from the ruling Communist Party, which tightly controls the courts. At the height of his influence, Lu, a colourful and often brash official by Chinese standards, was seen as emblematic of pervasive internet controls, although his downfall has not brought a reversal of those policies. The court, in the eastern city of Ningbo, said in a statement that Lu had accepted the verdict and would not appeal. Lu, 59, pleaded guilty in October after prosecutors had accused him of abusing his power in various government posts over 15 years, including as the head of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC). Between 2002 and 2017, he received illicit assets from government units or individuals worth more than $4.77 million, the court said in the statement. He had "shown repentance" and "actively returned" most of the money and property, it added. Reuters could not reach Lu in jail to seek comment, and it is unclear who acts as his lawyer. Lu worked his way up through China's official Xinhua news agency before becoming head of propaganda in Beijing and then moving to internet work in 2013. He became a deputy propaganda minister after being replaced at the internet regulator. Under Lu, the regulator did not carry out Xi's instructions in a timely or resolute fashion, China's anti-corruption watchdog has said. The government blocks websites it deems a challenge to party rule or a threat to stability, from foreign social media platforms and news outlets to sites such as Google's main search engine and Gmail service. Organisers of China's first World Internet Conference in 2014, set up under Lu to promote Beijing's vision of internet governance, irked foreign tech firms by seeking their agreement on a last-minute declaration on "internet sovereignty". Tech industry representatives declined to sign, and rights groups condemned it as a bid to undermine internet freedom. When Lu visited Facebook Inc's U.S. campus in 2014, he was greeted in Mandarin by Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of the social networking site that has long been blocked in China, a Chinese government website has said. Lu had vociferously defended China's internet curbs. In 2015, he told reporters: "Indeed, we do not welcome those that make money off China, occupy China's market, even as they slander China's people. These kinds of websites I definitely will not allow in my house."

China jails former internet regulator Lu Wei for 14 years over graft

The former head of China's censorship apparatus, Lu Wei, pleaded guilty to accepting 32 million yuan ($4.6 million) in bribes at a trial Friday.

Lu, who oversaw a tightening of online censorship during his post at the Cyberspace Administration of China, was a fierce defendent of China's censorship policies.&nbsp;

In 2016, he stepped down from his post, and officials announced he was being investigated for suspected disciplinary violations the following year.

According to a post from Ningbo Intermediate People’s Court's official Weibo account Friday, Lu was charged with accepting bribes from 2002 to the latter half of 2017.&nbsp;

Prosecutors said that Lu used his influence and position at various government organisations, including the Cyberspace Administration of China and Xinhua News Agency, to help others in exchange for benefits.

At the end of the trial in Zhejiang province, Lu pleaded guilty and "repented in court", it said.

The former China internet tsar was once named among the world's 100 most influential people by Time magazine. He also met with several Silicon Valley executives, including Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who personally welcomed him to the company's Silicon Valley headquarters in 2014.

The former head of China's censorship apparatus, Lu Wei, pleaded guilty to accepting 32 million yuan ($4.6 million) in bribes at a trial Friday. Lu, who oversaw a tightening of online censorship during his post at the Cyberspace Administration of China, was a fierce defendent of China's censorship policies.

The former head of China's censorship apparatus, Lu Wei, pleaded guilty to accepting 32 million yuan ($4.6 million) in bribes at a trial Friday. Lu, who oversaw a tightening of online censorship during his post at the Cyberspace Administration of China, was a fierce defendent of China's censorship policies. In 2016, he stepped down from his post, and officials announced he was being investigated for suspected disciplinary violations the following year. According to a post from Ningbo Intermediate People’s Court's official Weibo account Friday, Lu was charged with accepting bribes from 2002 to the latter half of 2017. Prosecutors said that Lu used his influence and position at various government organisations, including the Cyberspace Administration of China and Xinhua News Agency, to help others in exchange for benefits. At the end of the trial in Zhejiang province, Lu pleaded guilty and "repented in court", it said. The former China internet tsar was once named among the world's 100 most influential people by Time magazine. He also met with several Silicon Valley executives, including Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who personally welcomed him to the company's Silicon Valley headquarters in 2014.

Former Chinese internet chief pleads guilty in bribery trial

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China jails former internet regulator Lu Wei for 14 years over graft

Former Chinese internet chief pleads guilty in bribery trial