Chinese tycoon, who criticised Xi Jinping, sentenced to 18 years in prison

A Chinese real estate tycoon and outspoken critic of President Xi Jinping was jailed for 18 years on Tuesday for corruption, bribery and embezzlement of public funds, a court statement said.

Ren Zhiqiang -- once among the ruling Communist Party's inner circle -- disappeared from the public eye in March, shortly after penning an essay that lambasted Xi's response to the coronavirus outbreak.

His outspokenness had earned the former chairman of state-owned property developer the Huayuan Group the nickname "Big Cannon".