Former senior provincial legislator stands trial for graft

CHANGCHUN - Li Wenke, a former senior legislator in Northeast China's Liaoning province, stood trial for accepting and taking bribes Thursday.

Li, who was formerly deputy director of the Standing Committee of Liaoning Provincial People's Congress, was accused of abusing his power to help others with business and promotions, and accepting money and valuables worth more than 36.59 million yuan ($5.82 million) personally or through others between 1997 and 2016.

Prosecutors alleged that Li also gave cash and valuables worth more than 1.86 million yuan to 55 officials in Liaoning between 2009 and 2011 when he was seeking to be nominated as Liaoning's vice governor and deputy director of the Standing Committee of Liaoning Provincial People's Congress.

Li pleaded guilty and expressed remorse at the trial, which was held at Tonghua Intermediate People's Court in Northeast China's Jilin province.

Altogether 30 people attended the trial, including legislators, political advisors, journalists, and members of the public.

The verdict will be announced at a later date.