Beijing, July 7 (IANS) A senior officer of the Chinese justice department was executed Wednesday after being sentenced to death for corruption and rape.

The death sentence awarded to Wen Qiang, 55, former director of Chongqing Municipal Judicial Bureau, by a lower court April 14 was approved by the Chinese Supreme Court.

The Municipal Higher People’s Court May 21 rejected the appeal of Wen, who was convicted for accepting bribes, shielding criminal gangs, rape and failing to account for his assets worth 10 million yuan, Xinhua reported.

The lower court convicted Wen of taking bribes of more than 12 million yuan ($1.76) by helping companies and businessmen gain illegal profits.

Wen was also found guilty of shielding organised crime gangs and raping a university student in 2007.