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Ex-mayor hid bribe money in Buddha statues, prosecutors say

A FORMER mayor in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region today stood trial for taking bribes worth more than 32 million yuan (US$ 4.68 million).

Xu Guoyuan, the former mayor and vice-party chief of Chifeng City, took an average of 15,000 yuan in bribes per day during his six-year tenure in the city, prosecutors said in Baotou Intermediate People's court.

Xinhua news agency reported that Xu's wife, Li Minjie, was also on trial for accepting bribes.

The 53-old former mayor hid the money in Buddha statues in his home, an investigative report issued by the prosecutors said.

Xu sent a safe full of cash and precious jewelry to a Buddhist temple in Yunnan Province and hid the key of the safe in an ear of a Buddha statue in the temple, the report said.

The couple did not forget to chant sutras to receive Buddha's blessing.

The family continued asking for bribes even after they were under investigation by the Party disciplinary authority, according to the report.

Xu received US$300,000 and 200,000 yuan from bribes after an investigation began into how he acquired a 3.8 million yuan villa.

Xu's Chinese Communist Party membership was revoked and he was sacked as mayor on January 23.



 

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