ZHENGZHOU - The former vice governor of Central China's Hubei province, Guo Youming, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for taking bribes worth around 23.8 million yuan ($3.7 million), a court in neighboring Henan province ruled Wednesday.

The Intermediate People's Court of Nanyang city said in the ruling that two million yuan of Guo's personal property would be confiscated and promised that all of Guo's illegal gains would be recovered.

Guo accepted bribes from local companies and business people between 2001 and 2013 when he served in important posts, such as mayor of Yichang city, the city's Communist Party chief, and vice governor of Hubei.

The bribes, in the form of cash and gifts, were accepted either by himself, his relatives or others.

The court said leniency was given as Guo fully confessed to the crime and has voluntarily surrendered his illegal gains.

Guo was investigated by China's anti-corruption authority in November 2013.