FUZHOU -- An East China court on Monday handed down jail terms ranging from six months to life for nine people convicted of forging banknotes with a total face value of 175 million yuan ($27.755 million).

The nine, led by Lin Mujian, confessed to the acts of forgery while standing trial at the Intermediate People's Court in Zhangzhou, Fujian province, on April 12, the court said in a statement released Monday.

It said Lin financed the illegal production line, bought paper and printing machines through an agent from southern Guangdong province and hired the workers.

The underground workshop, located in a deserted school building in Zhaoan county, printed fake banknotes with a face value of 175 million yuan from late 2010 to January 2011, the court document said.

Police raided the workshop before the fake notes went into circulation, it said.

Lin was sentenced to life and his partners and employees received jail terms ranging from six months to six years.