Former senior Hebei official stands trial for bribery

NANJING -- Zhang Yue, a former provincial-level official in North China's Hebei province, stood trial Thursday at a court in East China's Jiangsu province for accepting bribes.

Prosecutors accused Zhang of taking advantage of his positions to seek benefits for others and of accepting money and assets worth more than 157 million yuan (nearly $23 million) between 2008 and 2016.

Zhang was a former member of the standing committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Hebei Provincial Committee and former secretary of the CPC's Hebei provincial committee for political and legal affairs.

The case was tried at the Intermediate People's Court of Changzhou City in Jiangsu.

Zhang made a statement to the court in which he pled guilty and expressed remorse.

More than 60 people, including legislators, political advisors, journalists and members of the public, were present at the trial.

The verdict will be announced at another date.