Sun Lijun pleads guilty, verdict to come

Sun Lijun, a former vice-minister of public security, pleaded guilty for accepting bribes, manipulating the securities market and illegal possession of firearms in a court trial in Changchun, Jilin province, on Friday.

The Changchun procurator was tasked with handling the case and filed a public lawsuit against Sun at the Changchun Intermediate People's Court.

Sun was charged with accepting bribes totaling 646 million yuan ($96.3 million) and illegally holding two guns.

Prosecutors said from 2001 to April, 2020, Sun had capitalized on his positions and influence, including as the head of the general operations division of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government foreign affairs office, deputy head of the general office of the Ministry of Public Security and as vice-minister of public security, for the benefit of others and to manipulate the securities market, acts for which he received bribes and properties in return.

Prosecutors added that in 2018, Sun meddled in stock trading price and volume by instructing relevant personnel to buy and sell stocks continuously, which is a serious circumstance.

In his final statement in court, Sun pleaded guilty and showed remorse. A verdict will be given at a later date, according to the court.

Sun, 53, was placed under investigation for suspected severe violation of Party discipline and national laws by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission in 2020.

He was expelled from the Communist Party of China and removed from office last year.