Ex-officials being tried, charged over graft

China continues its fight against graft as details of corruption charges against three former vice-ministerial officials were released on Friday.

Li Yihuang, former vice-governor of Jiangxi province, pleaded guilty to taking bribes, corruption and embezzlement of public funds at a court in Anhui province on Friday.

Prosecutors told the Anqing Intermediate People’s Court that Li made use of his work positions between 2004 and 2017, including as head of Jiangxi Copper Corporation and vice-governor of Jiangxi, to favor other departments and individuals in return for more than 51 million yuan ($7.3 million) in bribes.

In addition, they said, Li took advantage of his positions to obtain public property worth about 2.7 million yuan from 2011 to 2014.

Prosecutors said Li also used his influence to embezzle more than 140 million yuan in public funds for private use, and engaged in profit-earning activities between 2013 and 2016.

Li was also accused of abusing his power and causing a loss of State assets worth more than 20 million yuan.

Li pleaded guilty to all the charges. The court said its verdict will be announced later.

Also on Friday, the top procuratorate announced that two former senior officials have been prosecuted on corruption charges ranging from bribery to insider trading.

Wang Xiaoguang, former vice-governor of Guizhou province and a member of the Standing Committee of the Guizhou Committee of the Communist Party of China, has been charged with bribery, corruption and insider trading by the Chongqing People’s Procuratorate.

Zhang Shaochun, former vice-minister of finance, has been charged by Beijing prosecutors with taking huge bribes and making use of his position to seek benefits for others, according to the Supreme People’s Procuratorate.