Former Thailand tourism chief Juthamas Siriwan has been sentenced to 50 years for accepting $1.8 million in kickbacks.

As governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Juthamas took bribes from two Hollywood producers in exchange for letting them organize the Bangkok International Film Festival.

The Central Court for Corruption and Misconduct found her guilty of 11 counts of corruption from 2002 to 2007 and she was also ordered to pay restitution for the bribes.

Juthamas’ daughter was also jailed for 44 years for accepting corrupt payments in to her bank account to avoid detection.

Film producers Gerald and Patricia Green were sentenced to six months in prison in 2010 after being found guilty in the US of conspiracy under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

A FBI investigation discovered the Los Angeles-based couple generated more than $13.5 million in revenue as organisers of the film festival.

Juthamas was the first female head of state funded Tourism Authority of Thailand.