Bribery trial of former China planning official ends

Liu Tienan stands trial at at the Langfang Intermediate People's Court in northern Hebei Province. Liu was former vice minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission and former head of the National Energy Administration. The court posted the photo with its official account on Sina Weibo, a microblogging service in China.

LANGFANG - The bribery trial of Liu Tienan, a former senior economic planning official, began and was concluded on Wednesday, with the verdict to be announced later.

Former planning official admits graft

Liu, formerly deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission and head of the National Energy Administration, was accused of taking advantage of his posts to seek benefits for others between 2002 and 2012, at Langfang Intermediate People's Court in north China's Hebei Province.

"Alone or together with his son Liu Decheng, Liu illegally received money and properties worth more than 35.6 million yuan (5.8 million U.S. dollars) from five people... and should be criminally charged for bribery," said his indictment. Liu Decheng will be dealt with in a separate trial.

The five people mentioned in the indictment include Song Zuowen, board chairman of Nanshan Group based in east China's Shandong Province, and Qiu Jianlin, board chairman of Zhejiang Hengyi Group Co., Ltd.; both major private companies with multiple business interests.

More than 70 reporters, lawmakers and people from various walks of life attended the trial.