Court hears the dirt in gutter oil testimony

The first of three trials began on Wednesday in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, against a group of 20 people on charges of illegally processing recycled cooking oil and selling it.

The case is considered the largest in China involving the underground business of gutter oil, according to prosecutors. The accused made up to 99 million yuan ($15.5 million) in illegal income from December 2007 until they were seized by the police.

The first group of seven suspects was put on trial at the Ningbo Intermediate People's Court on Wednesday. They are accused of processing gutter oil into cooking oil, which prosecutors said still contained toxic substances.