Former senior Jilin official stands trial for graft

Gu Chunli, former vice governor of northeast China's Jilin Province, stood trial Wednesday on charges of corruption at a court in neighboring Heilongjiang Province.

Prosecutors allege that Gu took advantage of various official positions to seek business benefits for groups and individuals, accepting bribes worth about 43.66 million yuan (6.28 million U.S. dollars) either personally or through his wife from 2002 to 2015.

For companies or individuals that bribed him, Gu helped with construction projects, bank loans and promotions, according to an indictment by the Harbin Municipal People's Procuratorate in Heilongjiang.

All the illegal gains have been retrieved, it said.

Gu pleaded guilty to his crimes and expressed remorse during the trial.

More than 50 people, including representatives of local legislators, political advisors, journalists and members of the public, were present at the open trial.

The verdict has yet to be announced. Endi