Former senior official of tobacco body pleads guilty to bribery

Zhao Hongshun, former deputy director of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, pleaded guilty to accepting bribes on Thursday at a court in Huai'an, Jiangsu province.

From 2002 to 2018, Zhao used his various posts, including deputy director of the administration's economic operation department, deputy director of the tobacco monopoly bureau in Anhui province, and deputy director of the state administration, to seek benefits for organizations and individuals such as printing and advertising business as well as job promotions, according to the local prosecutors.

They added that Zhao illegally received properties and gifts equivalent to 90.32 million yuan ($12.84 million).

The Intermediate People's Court of Huai'an heard the trial on Thursday, attended by about 50 people, including prosecutors, defendant's relatives, NPC deputies and journalists.

The court announced an adjournment and will make the ruling at a later date.

Zhao was placed under investigation by China's top graft watchdogs in February. He was expelled from the Party and public positions and arrested for taking bribes in July before being charged with bribery in September.