Former provincial official stands trial for bribe-taking

A former provincial government official went on trial on Friday in east China's Jiangxi Province for allegedly taking large bribes, according to a court statement.

Wu Zhiming is being prosecuted on charges of accepting cash and properties in bribes valued at 47.48 million yuan (7.53 million U.S. dollars), said a statement from the Intermediate People's Court in Jiujiang City.

Prosecutors found Wu took the illegal gains while he successively served as district head and city official in the provincial capital city of Nanchang as well as vice secretary-general of the Jiangxi provincial government between 2002 and 2011.

In return, he helped the bribe-givers seek benefits in projects and helped them with job transfers and promotions by taking advantage of his post, said the procurators.

In last August, Wu was expelled from the Communist Party of China by the provincial discipline inspection authorities. Later, he was removed from his governmental position and his role as a deputy to the Nanchang municipal people's congress was terminated.