A former chief of the salt administration bureau in Guangdong province admitted in court to accepting bribes during his tenure, saying his mistress forced him to do so.

Shen Zhiqiang, former director of the Guangdong salt administration bureau, accused of receiving 650,000 yuan ($95,200) in bribes, pleaded guilty in the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court, the Guangzhou Daily reported.

Shen said he accepted the money only because his "mistress threatened to expose their relationship" if he refused.

Besides Shen, six other officials will also be tried for their involvement in what is believed to be one of the biggest salt related graft cases ever exposed in the country.

Deputy director of Guangdong Salt Administration Bureau Chen Qiongfu was charged in July this year for taking 295,000 yuan, HK$40,000 and $2,000 in bribes.

The other five suspects will face prosecution soon, the report said.

Prosecutors said Shen and his mistress, surnamed Bai, accepted bribes from a local company on several occasions and helped the company win bids on packages of salt products.

The report quoted Shen's lawyer as saying: "Shen did not break the law on purpose. Shen actually shared the mistress with the briber."

Shen was questioned by the local disciplinary department in late 2008 and removed from his post early this year.

China Daily

(China Daily 12/02/2009 page5)