Two former officials stand trial for corruption

WUHAN - Two former senior officials have been tried for corruption in central China, local authorities said on Wednesday.

Wang Yongchun, former vice general manager of the China National Petroleum Corporation, stood trial on Monday in the Xiangyang Intermediate People's Court in Xiangyang City, Hubei Province. Wang is accused of taking bribes and abuse of power.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China (CPC) announced its investigation into Wang in August 2013. He was removed from his post the same month and expelled from the CPC in June 2014.

On Wednesday, the Yichang Intermediate People's Court in Yichang City, also in Hubei Province, heard the case of Guo Yongxiang, who used to head the provincial federation of literacy and art circles of southwest China's Sichuan Province. Guo was charged with taking bribes.

Guo was stripped of CPC membership and expelled from public office in April last year and has been under investigation since June 2013.

The verdicts will be announced at later dates, according to the court.