Former Jiangsu official pleads guilty to bribery

Miao Ruilin, former vice-governor of Jiangsu province, pleaded guilty to bribery during his first trial on Wednesday at Qingdao Intermediate People's Court in Shandong province.

Prosecutors said Miao took advantage of his positions - as mayor and Party secretary of Suqian city in Jiangsu province, vice-governor of Jiangsu province and mayor of Jiangsu's capital Nanjing - to provide assistance for both individuals and organizations in matters of enterprise project approvals, project contracting and employment.

In return, they said, Miao received illegal properties directly or through close relatives equivalent to 7.2 million yuan ($1.02 million).

During the public trial attended by about 40 people - a crowd consisting of legislators, political advisers, journalists and othersprosecutors presented relevant evidence and Miao pleaded guilty after a cross-examination.

The court announced an adjournment and will make its ruling at a later date.

Miao was investigated in November last year by the Communist Party of China's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision for "serious violations of disciplines and laws". He was expelled from the Party and removed from public office in April. He was arrested in May on bribery charges.

The Supreme People's Procuratorate, China's top prosecuting authority, also announced on Wednesday that prosecutors in Tianjin have filed bribery charges with the Tianjin First Intermediate People's Court against Qin Ling, former board chairman of Huarong Investment Stock Corporation Limited.

Prosecutors said Qin has used the power of his senior position in the company to seek benefits for others, accept a huge number of illegal properties and illegally gain possession of large amounts of public property.

Qin is the son of Qin Guangrong, former Party chief of Yunnan province who turned himself in to authorities in May and is cooperating with graft watchdogs.

Media reports have said Qin Guangrong's surrender in May was related to his son being placed under investigation in April last year amid a corruption scandal involving China Huarong Asset Management, one of China's four largest State-run asset management companies and also parent company of Huarong Investment Stock Corporation Limited.