Ex-rail chief weeps at his trial for graft
Source: Agencies |
June 10, 2013, Monday
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Print Edition
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The man who once ran China's powerful railways ministry wept yesterday as he admitted his guilt and sought leniency at his trial on corruption charges, one of the country's highest-level graft cases in years.
Liu Zhijun, 60, who oversaw the ministry's high-profile bullet train development, is accused of taking massive bribes and steering lucrative projects to associates. Liu went on trial at the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court amid relatively tight security.
Prosecutors accuse Liu of using his position of influence to help about 11 business associates win promotions and project contracts and accepting 64.6 million yuan (US$10.5 million) in bribes.
While railways minister, Liu is said to have helped Ding Yuxin, chairwoman of a Beijing investment company, and her relatives win cargo and railway construction contracts. He also helped them in the acquisition of shares in a bullet train wheel set company and with enterprise financing, "breaking regulations and playing favoritism," to allow Ding and her family to "reap huge profits," Xinhua news agency reported.
"Liu's malpractices have led to huge losses of public assets and of the interests of the state and people, and he should be subject to criminal liabilities for bribe taking and abuse of power," the indictment said.
If found guilty, he could face the death penalty or life in jail.
China Central Television showed pictures of a downcast Liu standing in the dock answering questions and looking at a screen on which evidence against him was being displayed.
The trial had concluded by midday, and the court said it would announce a verdict at a later, unspecified date.
Liu's defense attorney, Qian Lieyang, said after the trial that his client admitted guilt and expressed remorse during the proceedings, weeping as he read out a personal statement. Qian said he asked the court to consider Liu's "contributions" in spearheading the high-speed train system when determining sentence.
Even prosecutors asked the court for lenience on Liu's behalf, saying that he showed a positive attitude during investigations and confessed to many wrongdoings on his own accord, Qian told reporters.
China's railway system has faced numerous problems over the past few years, including heavy debts from funding new high-speed lines, waste and fraud. The ministry suffered a big blow to its image when a crash in 2011 between two high-speed trains killed 40 people.
Earlier this year, the government dismantled the ministry, separating its regulatory and commercial arms to reduce bureaucracy and boost efficiency.
Liu Zhijun, 60, who oversaw the ministry's high-profile bullet train development, is accused of taking massive bribes and steering lucrative projects to associates. Liu went on trial at the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court amid relatively tight security.
Prosecutors accuse Liu of using his position of influence to help about 11 business associates win promotions and project contracts and accepting 64.6 million yuan (US$10.5 million) in bribes.
While railways minister, Liu is said to have helped Ding Yuxin, chairwoman of a Beijing investment company, and her relatives win cargo and railway construction contracts. He also helped them in the acquisition of shares in a bullet train wheel set company and with enterprise financing, "breaking regulations and playing favoritism," to allow Ding and her family to "reap huge profits," Xinhua news agency reported.
"Liu's malpractices have led to huge losses of public assets and of the interests of the state and people, and he should be subject to criminal liabilities for bribe taking and abuse of power," the indictment said.
If found guilty, he could face the death penalty or life in jail.
China Central Television showed pictures of a downcast Liu standing in the dock answering questions and looking at a screen on which evidence against him was being displayed.
The trial had concluded by midday, and the court said it would announce a verdict at a later, unspecified date.
Liu's defense attorney, Qian Lieyang, said after the trial that his client admitted guilt and expressed remorse during the proceedings, weeping as he read out a personal statement. Qian said he asked the court to consider Liu's "contributions" in spearheading the high-speed train system when determining sentence.
Even prosecutors asked the court for lenience on Liu's behalf, saying that he showed a positive attitude during investigations and confessed to many wrongdoings on his own accord, Qian told reporters.
China's railway system has faced numerous problems over the past few years, including heavy debts from funding new high-speed lines, waste and fraud. The ministry suffered a big blow to its image when a crash in 2011 between two high-speed trains killed 40 people.
Earlier this year, the government dismantled the ministry, separating its regulatory and commercial arms to reduce bureaucracy and boost efficiency.
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