China's former Railways Minister goes on trial for corruption

China's longest-serving railways minister Liu Zhijun went on trial today charged with "political and ethical misconducts", including accepting million of dollars in bribes during his 8-year tenure.
Liu's case is the first high-profile anti-graft trial under the new Chinese regime under President Xi Jinping.
The former minister accused of accepting USD 10.53 million bribes while executing the country's high speed rail projects stood trial in a court in Beijing, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Besides corruption Liu, 60, was charged with bribery and abuse of power.
According to the indictment by the Second Branch of Beijing People's Procuratorate, Liu had taken advantage of his position and helped 11 people in promotion and wining project contracts, and accepted 64.6 million yuan (USD 10.53 million) in bribes from them between 1986 to 2011.

During his tenure as the railways minister, Liu helped Ding Yuxin and her relatives to win cargo transportation and railway construction contracts.

He also helped Ding in the acquisition of shares in a company and with enterprise financing, by breaking regulations and playing favouritism, which allowed Ding Yuxin and her family to reap huge profits, according to the indictment.
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.
He is one of many high profile officials who are currently being tried for corruption.

The other leader, Bo Xilai, a top leader in the previous leadership dispensation of the ruling Communist Party of China, too accused of corruption and abuse of power, is awaiting trial.
His wife Gu Kailai has been given death sentence which was converted to life for the murder of a British businessman Neil Heywood after falling out with him over business deals.
Liu's indictment by the CPC earlier said, as a member of staff of a state organ, he engaged in malpractices for personal gains and abuse of power, leading to huge losses of public properties and of the interests of the state and its people.

A inquiry report released by the Railways last year said Liu, the longest railway minister who was dismissed in 2011 was charged with political and ethical misconducts.
Liu was appointed vice minister of railways in 1996 and minister in 2003 and largely credited with various high speed railway projects. He was removed from his post and came under investigation in February 2011.