Former senior Chongqing official pleads guilty to bribery

Zheng Hong, a former senior official who worked for Chongqing's top parliament, pleaded guilty to accepting more than 50 million yuan ($7 million) in bribes during his trial in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, on Friday have.

Zheng, a former vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chongqing Municipal People's Congress, was found to have used his positions, including the posts of governor of Chongqing's Jiulongpo District and head of the Chongqing Municipal Federation of Trade Unions, to obtain benefits, according to allegations of Xi'an Prosecutors for individuals and departments in matters such as business operations and project awarding between 1998 and 2023.

In return, Zheng accepted bribes worth more than 33.14 million yuan, prosecutors said.

Even after his retirement, Zheng used his influence to help others in matters such as business operations and enforcing court rulings, and then accepted more than 17.69 million yuan directly or through his family members, prosecutors added.

During the trial, Zheng and his lawyer also expressed their opinions on the evidence presented by the prosecution, and Zheng finally confessed to his crime.

The Xi'an Intermediate People's Court said the verdict would be announced at a later date.

In March last year, 69-year-old Zheng from Chongqing was investigated on suspicion of serious violations of party discipline and national laws.

In August of the same year he was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party.

He was charged with bribery earlier this year.