In Gansu, ex-official pleads guilty, another is expelled

Lei Zhiqiang, former chairman of the Gansu Province Rural Credit Union, pleaded guilty in court in Qingyang, Gansu, on Thursday to taking bribes totaling more than 300 million yuan ($44 million).

Prosecutors had accused Lei of taking advantage of various positions he held in the province, including vice-mayor of Tianshui and deputy Party chief and then chairman of the credit union, which offers agricultural loans. During his time in the three positions from 2000 to 2017, Lei sought profits for himself, close relatives and others.

Lei accepted bribes worth more than 241 million yuan from 42 people for such things as approval of loans and the selection of official. He was also unable to explain the origins of additional assets worth more than 81 million yuan.