Former senior Inner Mongolia official stands trial

Wang Suyi, a former senior official from north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, stood trial in Beijing on Thursday on charges of taking bribes.

Wang was accused of taking bribes worth more than 10.73 million yuan ($1.71 million), according to the Beijing No.1 Intermediate People's Court.

Wang was a member of the Standing Committee of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and head of the United Front Work Department of the regional Party committee.

The bribes were taken from nine companies and individuals between 2005 and 2013, when he also served as the deputy Party chief, mayor and Party chief of Bayannur City in Inner Mongolia, according to the prosecutors.

In return for the bribes accepted either by himself or via his wife Wang Zhihong, Wang Suyi used his position to seek profits in business operations or promotions for companies and individuals, including a local real estate development company and Li Shigui, former deputy secretary-general of the Bayannur municipal government, prosecutors said.

The trial was open to the public. The court said the verdict will be announced at a later date.

Wang was expelled from the CPC and dismissed from public office for severe disciplinary violations in September 2013.