Jilin official pleads guilty to bribery

Wang Erzhi, former vice chairman of the Jilin Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, pleaded guilty during a trial on Thursday in Heilongjiang province to taking bribes of over 50.72 million yuan ($7.35 million).

Prosecutors accused him of making use of his various positions to offer preferential treatment to people and departments in project construction, land leasing, and the refund of urban infrastructure supporting fees from 2001 to 2018. In return, Wang received more than 50.72 million yuan.

Wang made a final statement and pleaded guilty in court on Thursday. The Harbin Intermediate People's Court said a verdict would be given at a later date.

Wang, 64 and a native of Jilin, became secretary-general of the Jilin Provincial Committee of CPPCC in 2008 and stepped up to vice chairman of the advisory body in 2012.

Wang was placed under investigation in August 2018 by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission for serious violations of discipline and law.

He was expelled from the party and removed from his public office in January 2019.