Village head in 9 million yuan corruption trial

A former head of a village in Beijing has gone on trial on charges of corruption and fraud amounting to nearly 9 million yuan ($1.47 million).

Gao Baohe, 45, the former head of Xiniuyu village in Pinggu district, is accused of fraud in relation to several faked tourism projects from 2009 to 2012.

He is also accused of taking bribes during his term as the head of the village, the Mirror Evening News reported.

At Thursday's hearing in Beijing No 2 Intermediate People's Court, Gao denied all the charges and said he was retracting several statements he previously made to investigators.