Former provincial legislator stands trial for bribery

TAIYUAN - Zhang Jiehui, a former legislator of north China's Hebei province, on Thursday stood trial for taking bribes at the Intermediate People's Court of Taiyuan in Shanxi province.

Zhang, a former deputy chairperson of the Standing Committee of the Hebei Provincial People's Congress, was charged with accepting money and property worth nearly 127 million yuan (about 18.3 million U.S. dollars) personally or through others.

Zhang, who also served as the mayor of the city of Anshan, Liaoning Province, the secretary of the Anshan Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and vice governor of Hebei, allegedly took advantage of his posts to benefit others on business development and acquisitions, loan applications, land use rights and job promotions between 2001 and 2017.

The prosecutors, the defendant and his lawyers cross-examined evidence and gave full testimonies, according to the court's statement. Zhang made his final statement, confessing and expressing remorse in court. The trial was attended by more than 90 people, including Zhang's family members.

The court will announce the verdict at another date.