Chinese-born Canadian billionaire Xiao Jianhua was sentenced to 13 years in prison by a Shanghai court on Friday for bribery, embezzlement and other financial crimes.

His Tomorrow Holding investment group, which had close ties to Communist Party leaders, was also fined 55 billion yuan (8 billion dollars), according to an order by the First People’s Court.

Mr Xiao, a Canadian passport-holder, was detained five years ago at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong and brought to China.

He has not been seen since then.

The court also imposed a personal fine of 6.5 million yuan, showing leniency after he cooperated and pleaded guilty to the charge.

Messrs Xiao and Tomorrow Holding bribed state officials with shares, apartments, cash and other property worth 680 million yuan from 2001 to 2021 in order to evade supervision and receive other improper benefits.

The public servants who took bribes were facing separate legal proceedings.

The Canadian embassy sought access to Mr Xiao in July without success.

China does not recognise Mr Xiao’s dual nationality, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told journalists in Beijing. 

(dpa/NAN)