Former senior Jiangsu official stands trial for graft

HANGZHOU -- Zhao Shaolin, a former provincial-level official in East China's Jiangsu province, stood trial on Tuesday on charges of offering bribes and purchasing foreign exchange through deception at a court in Zhejiang province.

Prosecutors alleged that Zhao, a former member of the standing committee of the Communist Party of China Jiangsu provincial committee and secretary-general of the provincial Party committee, sought illicit benefits for his son's real estate business in Jinan city, Shandong province from 2007 to 2014.

Zhao and his son, Zhao Jin, offered Wang Min, then Party chief of Jinan city, bribes worth over 4.45 million yuan ($640,300) on various occasions, according to the indictment.

Zhao allegedly helped his son purchase more than 41.7 million in U.S. dollars from various domestic banks and transferred it overseas by falsifying foreign trade contracts and approval documents from relevant authorities.

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

More than 60 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.