Former Jiangxi official charged with bribery, pleads guilty

Gong Jianhua, former vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the Jiangxi Provincial People's Congress, was charged with taking bribes worth about 83.61 million yuan ($11.69 million) and pleaded guilty at trial on Thursday.

The Zhangzhou Intermediate People's Court in Fujian province heard Gong's case for the first time in public. Gong confessed his crimes and made a final statement, and the court will issue its verdict later.

According to the court, from 2004 to 2020 Gong made use of his former posts in Jiangxi province, including as executive vice mayor and Party chief of Nanchang, mayor of Yichun and Party chief of Fuzhou, to help individuals in transferring land use rights, coordinating land price, career promotion and project development.

In return, he accepted money or property directly or through relatives and friends totaling about 83.61 million yuan.

Prosecutors suggested Gong be held criminally responsible.

Gong, 61, a native of Jiangxi, began working in 1983 and joined the Communist Party of China in 1984.

He served as Party chief of Nanchang from March 2015 to 2016. He was selected as vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the Jiangxi Provincial People's Congress in January 2017, and served in the post until the investigation began.

In November 2021, Gong voluntarily surrendered and accepted disciplinary review and supervision by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision.

In May 2022, the CCDI and NCS expelled him from the Party, removed him from his posts and transferred his case to the local procuratorial organ for review and prosecution. Later, the Supreme People's Procuratorate approved his arrest.

In August, the SPP designated the Zhangzhou procuratorate to handle his case and initiate legal action.