SHANGHAI, March 19 -- Former deputy general manager of China Eastern Airlines Chen Haiju was sentenced to life in prison for bribery on Thursday, according to a court ruling.

Chen, 65, is accused of accepting property and cash totaling 4.86 million yuan (790,244 U.S dollars) between 2001 and 2013, while he was head of the Air Traffic Management Bureau of the Civil Aviation Administration of China and deputy general manager of China Eastern Airlines, according to the Shanghai No.1 Intermediate People's Court.

Chen's personal wealth was also confiscated.