Former Nanjing mayor Ji Jianye is sentenced to 15 years in prison on April 7, 2015, by Yantai Intermediate People's Court in east China's Shandong province for taking bribes. [Photo: weibo.com]

Ji Jianye, former mayor of Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison on Tuesday for taking bribes worth US$1.8 million by the Yantai Intermediate People's Court in east China's Shandong province.

The former mayor admitted guilt on all charges in a January 16 trial in Yantai Intermediate People's Court in east China's Shandong province .

Ji was first removed from his post and investigated for serious disciplinary violations in relation to bribery allegations in 2013.

He served as mayor of Nanjing since January of 2010, where he was also deputy party secretary.

A statement from the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection revealed that Ji took advantage of his position to do favors for others, receiving huge amounts of money and gifts in compensation for the "service," paid either to him or members of his family.

Ji was the first "tiger" (a term in China that refers to senior corrupt officials) hunted in Jiangsu province after the 18th CPC National Congress in November, 2012.