1st LD-Writethru: Former senior political advisor, police chief of Tianjin stands trial for graft

Wu Changshun, a former senior political advisor and police chief in north China's Tianjin Municipality, stood trial Wednesday on charges including accepting bribes, embezzlement and abuse of power, according to a court statement.

Wu was formerly vice chairman of the Tianjin Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and director of the Public Security Bureau.

The people's procuratorate of Zhengzhou City in central China's Henan Province alleged that Wu took advantage of his posts to illegally hold 342 million (about 49.7 million U.S. dollars) in public funds through companies directly under his control.

Wu was also indicted for accepting bribes worth about 84.4 million yuan directly or through his family, and seeking personal interests by embezzling public funds amounting to 101 million yuan for the profit-making activities of entities.

Wu sought illegal benefits for multiple companies he ran and gave bribes, or asked people employed by these companies to offer bribes, worth about 10.57 million yuan to civil servants, prosecutors alleged.

They said Wu abused his power as he worked as deputy chief and chief of the city's Public Security Bureau, causing huge losses to national interests and the people's interests. His case was especially serious, they said.

Wu also bent the law for personal gains, ordering his subordinates to shield suspects who avoided being investigated, according to prosecutors.

Wu made a final statement to the court, in which he pled guilty and expressed remorse.

The court has adjourned to decide the verdict.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC announced in July 2014 that Wu was under investigation for suspected disciplinary and law violations. Endi