(XINHUA)

Shi Baikui, who stole art pieces from the Palace Museum in Beijing in 2011, was sentenced to 13 years in prison, fined 13,000 yuan ($2,058) and was deprived of his political rights for three years, according to the ruling announced by the Second Intermediate People's Court of Beijing on March 19.

Shi, 27, a farmer from east China's Shandong Province, broke into the museum on May 8, 2011, and stole nine pieces of artwork made of gold and jewels. The missing items were on loan from the Hong Kong Liangyi Museum and were on temporary display at the Palace Museum.

Shi said he didn't accept the 13-year jail term and would appeal to a higher court.