Former senior Guangxi official stands trial for graft

CHANGSHA -- Yu Yuanhui, formerly a senior official from south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, stood trial Tuesday on charges of taking bribes.

Yu was formerly a member of the standing committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and Party chief of its capital city, Nanning.

The people's procuratorate of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture in Central China's Hunan province alleged that Yu either took advantage of his posts in the region or made use of convenient conditions resulting from his power and status to seek benefits for others in obtaining land, development and construction projects, and in the restitution of land transfer fees.

Prosecutors said Yu accepted bribes worth about 9.01 million yuan (about $1.31 million) directly or through his family.

Yu 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 May 2015 that Yu was under investigation for suspected disciplinary and law violations.