Trial ends for ex-Chongqing police chief

The five-day trial of a former senior police official in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality, who has been accused of protecting gangs, rape and taking bribes, ended early yesterday, bringing to a close the highest-profile case yet in the huge mafia crackdown.

The Chongqing No 5 Intermediate People's Court said in a statement that a verdict would be announced at a later date.

Wen Qian, former deputy police chief and director of the municipality's justice bureau, is accused of taking more than 15 million yuan ($2.2 million) in bribes to turn a blind eye on gang crimes, and possessing a huge amount of assets of which he could not explain the origin.