GUANGZHOU, July 9 (Xinhua) -- A former senior official from south China's Hainan Province has admitted to taking bribes while in office over a period of several years, expressing remorse during his trial at a local court on Thursday.
Zhang Qi, a former member of the Standing Committee of the Hainan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and former secretary of the CPC Haikou municipal committee, stood trial at the Intermediate People's Court of Guangzhou, Guangdong Province.
Zhang was accused of illegally accepting money and gifts amounting to over 107 million yuan (15.3 million U.S. dollars) while holding various government positions between 2005 and 2019, abusing his positions of power to help others gain profits.
Prosecutors presented evidence, while the defendant and his defenders cross-examined the evidence. Both sides gave their own full accounts at the trial.
In his final statement, Zhang admitted his guilt and expressed remorse.
The court will reconvene at a later date to announce the verdict in the case.
The trial was attended by legislators, political advisors, press and members of the public. Enditem
