Senior Hebei official pleads guilty of graft

Yang Chongyong, a former senior legislator in Hebei province, pleaded guilty on Tuesday of accepting bribes valued at more than 206 million yuan ($32.2 million), at the Second Intermediate People's Court of Tianjin.

During the court hearing, Yang said he regretted his crimes, according to the court. A verdict will be released at a later date.

According to the court's statement, Yang abused his position to sell illegal favors from 2008 to 2016 in construction projects, land-use approvals and the establishment and approval of companies. The bribes were paid in cash and gifts.