Su Hongzhang, former senior official in northeast China's Liaoning Province, stood trial Monday on charges of accepting and offering bribes at a court in the city of Harbin, Heilongjiang Province.
Prosecutors alleged that from 2004 to 2016, Su, formerly a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Liaoning Provincial Committee and head of the commission for political and legal affairs of the CPC Liaoning provincial committee, took advantage of various official positions to help agencies and individuals in settling cases, running schools, seeking promotions and getting election votes, among other offences.
Su was said to have accepted bribes worth nearly 20 million yuan (2.9 million U.S. dollars).
In addition, he was accused of offering bribes worth 1.1 million yuan to state functionaries from 2010 to 2011 when running for vice governor of Liaoning and member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee.
Su pleaded guilty and expressed remorse.
More than 50 people, including legislators, political advisors, journalists and members of the public, were present at the open trial.
The verdict will be announced at a later date.
