Government and Policy

Vice mayor in S China on trial for taking bribes

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-21 22:17

GUANGZHOU - A former vice mayor in south China stood trial Tuesday for taking over 12 million yuan ($1.9 million) in bribes, according to a local court.

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Yang Guangliang, former executive vice mayor of Maoming in Guangdong Province, went on trial at Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court on charges of taking 10.5 million yuan and 2 million HK dollars worth of bribes, the court said in a statement.

Yang also possessed 34.6 million yuan and 24,000 euros in personal assets in which he failed to account for their source, it said.

He stands accused of abusing power for personal gain at his previous government posts beginning in 1992 to his most recent position as vice mayor that ended in 2009.

Prosecutors said between 2007 and 2009 alone, Yang accepted 7 million yuan and 2 million HK dollars worth of bribes from three companies to help them acquire lands.

Yang also took bribes from hotels and restaurants to exempt them from a government tax and from lower-level governments to help them get more funding, prosecutors added.

The court will announce the verdict at a later date.