CHONGQING - The former president of Chongqing Energy Investment Group (CQEIG) was sentenced to life in prison for bribery in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality, a local court said Monday.

Hou Xingzhi, 60, was convicted and given a life sentence on Monday at the city's No 1 Intermediate People's Court for taking 6.25 million yuan($992,000) in bribes between 1996 and 2011, according to a statement from the court.

According to the court, Hou abused his power as the deputy director of Chongqing's Economic Work Committee, deputy secretary-general of the city government and president of the CQEIG by offering to help several companies in exchange for money.

Hou was also stripped of his political rights for life and had all of his personal property confiscated.

Hou Xingzhi's son, Hou Yu, was also involved in the bribery but has been investigated in a separate case.

Hou Xingzhi said he would not appeal the sentence.

CQEIG employs 75,000 people and reported a total revenue of 19.5 billion yuan last year.