Former Fujian Party director Chen Jiadong charged

Chen Jiadong, former director of the Standing Committee of Xiamen People's Congress of Fujian province, was charged with embezzlement, abusing power and taking bribes of 94.15 million yuan ($13 million) as the case was heard at the Nanchang Intermediate People's Court of Jiangxi province on Thursday.

Chen confessed to his crimes and pleaded guilty in court. The court will release the verdict later.

According to the indictment from Nanchang people's procuratorate, from 2000 to 2022, Chen made use of different positions. including the mayor of Ningde, the Party chief of Zhangzhou, and the director of the Standing Committee of Xiamen People's Congress, in assisting certain companies and individuals in matters such as approving the use rights of forest land and contracting projects. In return, he received money and property worth 94.15 million yuan.

From 2013 to 2014, When he was serving as the Party chief of Zhangzhou, he abused his power for personal gains and overpaid property developers for projects, resulting in losses of more than 190 million yuan of state-owned property.

In addition, from 2015 to 2017, Chen, also during his term as Zhangzhou's Party chief, embezzled more than 3.41 million yuan of state-owned property together with others.

Chen, 63, a native of Fujian, began working in 1981 and joined the Party in 1986. He spent almost all his career life in Fujian, except once working in Nyingchi of Tibet autonomous region from July 2001 to July 2004.

He was subject to disciplinary inspection and supervisory review in February 2022. Half a year later, he was expelled from the Party and removed from public posts over serious violations of laws and disciplines.