Zhang Yue, the former top official in charge of political and legal affairs in Hebei province, was tried on charges of taking bribes of more than 157 million yuan ($22.8 million).

The bribery case was tried in open court at Changzhou Intermediate People's Court in Jiangsu province on Thursday, the court said in a statement on its website.

Zhang was accused of accepting bribes between 2008 and 2016 during which time he held several senior positions in Hebei, including as the provincial police chief.