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Former vice-Party chief of Sichuan stands trial

Updated: 2015-04-24 07:31
By Zhang Yan in Xianning, Hubei province (China Daily)

Li Chuncheng, former vice-Party chief of Southwest China's Sichuan province, went on trial for corruption at Xianning Intermediate People's Court in Hubei province on Thursday.

Li was charged with accepting bribes and abuse of power between 1999 and 2012 while serving as the vice-mayor, mayor and Party chief in Chengdu; Party chief in Luzhou; and vice-Party chief of the Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China. Prosecutors said Li abused his power to gain benefits, including engineering contracts, for some enterprises and other concerns in land development. He accepted bribes totaling 39.8million yuan ($6.4 million) in cash and property. The illegal properties were given to him or to his wife and daughter.

Prosecutors said that between 2001 and 2011, at the request of Zhou Yongkang, the former security chief charged with corruption on April 3, Li abused his power to help others gain illegal benefits, resulting in losses to State assets.

The 73-year-old Zhou was accused of accepting bribes, abuse of power and disclosing State secrets at a trial at the Tianjin People's Procuratorate No 1 branch. Zhou became the highest-ranking official in recent years to face criminal charges in the country's drive against corruption.

Li's defense lawyers said he cooperated with law enforcement officers to confiscate most of the ill-gotten funds, and actively exposed corruption involving other high-ranking officers in the hope that "the court would consider a lenient punishment for him".

Former vice-Party chief of Sichuan stands trial

Li pleaded guilty and said he wouldn't appeal to a higher court.

"I have realized my serious wrongdoings, which caused great losses to public funds and people's interests, and I feel so sorry for the Party and the people," Li said.

"The fundamental reason for my corruption is the lack of ideals and beliefs and respect for the law," he said, adding that he will sincerely repent his crimes and is prepared to receive the legal punishment.

Sixty people - including judicial authorities, the media and the public - attended the trial. The court will deliver its verdict at a later date.

"No one is above the law," said Zhu Min, a deputy from the Xianning political consultative body. "No matter who is involved in alleged graft, the judicial authorities will punish them according to the law."

zhangyan1@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 04/24/2015 page4)

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