A former senior judge with the top court pleaded guilty on Tuesday, during a hearing in Tianjin, to taking more than 114 million yuan ($16.5 million) in bribes.

Xi Xiaoming, former vice-president of the Supreme People's Court, was charged by prosecutors with using his position at the court to provide conveniences for individuals or entities in the handling of cases and the public listing of companies, the Second Intermediate People's Court said in an online statement.

Xi showed remorse and pleaded guilty to the charges during his final statement at the court hearing, the statement said.