Former Ningxia Hui deputy Party chief pleads guilty

Jiang Zhigang, former deputy Party chief of Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, pleaded guilty to taking bribes of more than 79 million yuan ($10.9 million) on Thursday when standing at a court in Hebei province.

From 2003 to 2023, Jiang was found to have taken advantage of various work posts, including deputy head of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, head of the Organization Department of the CPC Beijing Committee and deputy Party chief of Ningxia, to seek profits for individuals and departments in matters such as obtaining the qualification of franchised dealers, project bidding and business cooperation, and then accepting bribes worth over 79.98 million yuan in return, according to prosecutors from Hengshui, Hebei.

The prosecutors provided evidence related to the bribes to the Hengshui Intermediate People's Court, adding that Jiang should be held criminally liable for the bribery.

During the trial, Jiang and his lawyer also shared their opinions on the evidence, and Jiang confessed to the crime at the end.

The court said that the ruling will be announced at a later date.

More than 30 people, including national lawmakers and political advisors, attended the case hearing.

Jiang, 63, a native of Jiangsu, started his career in 1982 and joined the Communist Party of China in 1986.

He was under probe for suspected severe violations of the Party disciplines and national laws in March 2023. In August that year, he was expelled from the Party and removed from public office.

Early this year, he was indicted for taking bribes by the Hebei prosecutors.

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn