Former vice-mayor of Chongqing pleads guilty to bribery

Xiong Xue, former vice-mayor of Chongqing, pleaded guilty on Thursday to accepting bribes totaling 148 million yuan ($21.11 million) during a public trial held by the Intermedia People's Court of Zhengzhou, Henan province.

Xiong, 61, admitted to his crimes and made a final statement in court. Sentencing will be announced at a later date, according to the court.

Prosecutors accused Xiong of capitalizing on his various positions, including Party chief of Chongqing's Yongchuan district, director of Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Commerce, director of Chongqing Development and Reform Commission and vice-mayor of the city, to provide assistance in project contracting, land approval, and other matters to relevant entities and individuals through other civil servants.

In return, he accepted a total of more than 148 million yuan in bribes directly or through others.

Xiong, a native of Chongqing, began his career in 1982 and joined the Party in 1984. He worked in Chongqing for a long time, rising to the position of vice-mayor in 2019.

He was placed under investigation in May 2023, and expelled from the Party and approved to be arrested in November. The case against him was initiated by prosecutors in Zhengzhou in April this year.