'Brother Watch' sentenced to 14 years in jail

Yang Dacai, former head of the Shaanxi provincial work safety administration, listens to the verdict at Xi’an Intermediate People's Court in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, Sept 5. Yang was sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption. [Di Xiaoxue/Asianewsphoto]

A former provincial work safety official was sentenced to 14 years in prison for bribery and owning a vast amount of property from unidentified sources on Thursday in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi province.

Yang Dacai was the director of the provincial work safety administration when he was photographed smiling at the spot of a serious traffic accident on Aug 26, 2012, in which 36 people were killed and four injured on a highway in Ansai, northern Shaanxi province. The photo sparked anger online.

Photographs later surfaced online of Yang wearing luxury wristwatches at numerous occasions, earning him the nickname "Brother Watch".

Xi’an Intermediate People's Court announced the verdict on Thursday morning and also confiscated personal property valued at 50,000 yuan ($8,170) from Yang, 56.

An estimated 5.29 million yuan Yang received in bribes and from unidentified sources was also confiscated and handed to the exchequer in accordance with the law.

Yang said nothing after hearing the judgment. He can appeal within 15 days if he objects to the sentence.

At Yang's trial on Aug 30, prosecutors said the total property owned by his family was valued at 11.77 million yuan, of which 5.04 million yuan was from unidentified sources, 250,000 yuan was from bribery and the remainder was legal.

Yang said at the trial that the 5.04 million yuan consisted of gifts from his subordinates and schoolmates during the holidays.

Yang was removed from office, expelled from the Party and detained for his alleged crimes on Feb 22 after the discipline and inspection commission of Shaanxi province started an investigation on Aug 30, 2012.