BEIJING, June 9 (RIA Novosti) - China's former railways minister Liu Zhijun went on trial in Beijing on Sunday, charged with bribery and abuse of power, official news agency Xinhua reported, in the first high-profile corruption case under China’s new President Xi Jinping.
Liu is accused of taking advantage of his position to help 11 people win promotions and project contracts, and accepting 64.6 million yuan ($10.53 million) in bribes from them between 1986 and 2011.
“Liu's malpractice has led to huge losses of public assets and damage to the interests of the state and people, and he should be subject to criminal liabilities for bribe taking and abuse of power, Xinhua quoted the indictment as saying.
Liu, 60, was appointed railways minister in 2003. He was sacked in 2011 on suspicion of "serious disciplinary violations" and in 2012 he was expelled from the Communist Party of China, Xinhua said.
Liu's removal is also believed to be linked to the high-speed train collision in July 2011 that killed 40 passengers and injured 172 others, the tragedy that was blamed on improper management, the agency said.
China’s newly-elected President Jinping has earlier pledged a resolute fight against corruption at all levels.
“We must resolutely reject formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism and extravagance, and resolutely fight against corruption and other misconduct in all manifestations,” he was quoted by Xinhua as saying.
