Former China Unicom manager pleads guilty to bribery

A former general manager of telecommunication giant China Unicom pleaded guilty to charges of bribery and abuse of power, a court in Shandong province said in a statement on Thursday.

The Qingdao Intermediate People's Court added sentencing will be announced at a later date.

Prosecutors alleged from 1998 to last year Li used his positions, such as general manager at China Post Group Co and Postal Savings Bank of China, to provide help for various companies and individuals in contracting projects, business operation and promotions. In return he took bribes worth 66.45 million yuan ($926 million). His power abuse in these positions led to the loss of 49.96 million yuan in State assets.

Li, 63, worked in the postal system for nearly 40 years after becoming a worker at a postal bureau in De'an, Jiangxi province, in 1981. After serving various positions in the provincial and national post administration, he was transferred to China Unicom in July 2018. He retired from the company in March 2020.

On Feb 18 last year, the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision, China's top anti-corruption watchdogs, announced Li had been put under investigation.