China's former vice governor stands trial for bribery

A former vice governor of northeast China's Jilin Province stood trial in Beijing on Thursday on charges of accepting bribes. Tian Xueren, who was also formerly Party chief and board chairman of the Bank of Jilin, was accused of taking bribes worth more than 19.19 million yuan (3.1 million U.S. dollars), according to the Beijing No.1 Intermediate People's Court. The bribes were taken from 10 companies and individuals between 1995 and 2011, during which he also served as the deputy party chief of Changchun city, the party chief of Jilin city, and the party chief of the Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture, all in Jilin Province. Tian was expelled from the Communist Party of China and dismissed from all his posts for "severe disciplinary and law violations" in July 2012. His illegal gains have been confiscated. The trial was open to the public. The court said the verdict will be announced at a later date.