Former Liaoning police chief help criminals evade punishment, court says

A former police chief of Liaoning province was tried on Thursday for helping criminals escape punishment and taking bribes totaling 546 million yuan ($81.48 million), a local court said.

Prosecutors said Li Wenxi also abused his power to help people apply for licenses for businesses and mining rights, according to a statement released by the Intermediate People's Court of Tai'an city, Shandong province.

Li pleaded guilty at the trial. The court decided to deliver its ruling at a later date.

Li, 72, served as the head of the Liaoning Public Security Bureau and deputy chairman of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference between 2004 and 2021.