Former provincial legislator stands trial for bribery

CHANGSHA - A former legislator from Northwest China's Shaanxi province Friday stood trial for taking bribes, at a city court in neighboring Hunan province.

Wei Minzhou, former vice director of the Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial People's Congress, was charged with accepting money and property worth more than 109.78 million yuan ($16.9 million) personally or through family members from 1996 to 2017, according to prosecutors.

He used his position to help organizations and individuals obtain mining and land use rights, win government contracts, and receive personal promotions and bank loans.

The prosecutors, defendant and his lawyers cross-examined evidence and gave full testimonies, said a statement from the city court of Chenzhou in Hunan.

Wei confessed and expressed remorse in court.

Legislators, political advisors, and members of the public attended the trial. The court will announce the verdict at a later date.