Chen Shifei, former deputy head of the National Medical Products Administration, was sentenced to 14 years in prison by a court in Shanghai on Wednesday for accepting bribes of more than 46 million yuan ($6.8 million).

Chen was also fined 4 million yuan, and his illicit gains and related interests were ordered turned over to the State treasury, according to the ruling announced by the Shanghai No 2 Intermediate People's Court.

The court found that from 2003 to 2024, Chen used his positions in the country's food and drug regulatory system to seek benefits for others in various matters and accepted bribes totaling more than 46.43 million yuan in return.

His actions constituted the crime of bribery and warranted severe punishment due to the "extremely large" amount involved, the court said. However, it granted leniency after noting that Chen confessed to the crime and actively returned his illicit gains.

Public records show Chen, 63, a native of Zhejiang province, began his career in 1983 and joined the Communist Party of China in 1995. He worked for many years in Zhejiang's drug regulatory bureau before being promoted in 2018 to deputy head of the National Medical Products Administration.

He was placed under investigation in February 2025 and was soon expelled from the Party. In November, he was indicted on bribery charges, and the case was publicly heard in January.