Yu Zhiping has been sentenced to 13 years in jail. (Internet photo)

Yu Zhiping, the former vice mayor of the city of Meishan in Sichuan province, has said that in an environment where corruption is so commonplace, an official would be seen as a "freak" if he were to turn down a bribe.

When Yu was sentenced last year to 13 years in jail for accepting bribes of 3 million yuan (US$480,000), he said in a statement that "an official will be sneered at as a freak if he refuses to take money."

According to Yu, some businesspeople would cry and beg officials to take their bribes. If the money were to be rejected, the official would be seen as causing the supplicant to feel humiliated.

Yu was considered a successful politician before his corruption was uncovered. He said the first time he was offered 200,000 yuan (US$31,700) by a businessman, he refused to take it. The man started crying, saying that if Yu refused, he would lose face.

Giving in to the man's pleading, Yu took the money and subsequently became more willing to take bribes.

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Yu Zhiping　　余治平

Meishan　　眉山