Former Chinese rail minister pleads guilty to corruption
By Chris Sleight10 June 2013
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Liu Zhijun, China’s Minister for Railways from 2003 to 2011, has pleaded guilty to accepting bribes in connection with construction of the country’s high-speed rail network. The trail follows his arrest and removal from office in March 2011 and his subsequent expulsion from the Chinese Communist Party in May 2012.
Mr Liu has admitted to accepting CNY 64.6 million (US$ 10.5 million) in cash bribes and CNY 800 million (US$ 130 million) in property between 1986 and 2011. He also said he received numerous other bribes, including shares, cars and works of art. The bribes were given in exchange for construction contracts as well as for jobs within China's railway organisation.
As part of his guilty plea, Mr Liu has asked for leniency in sentencing, and is reported to have expressed remorse and wept in court. The court was also asked to recognise his positive contribution to China’s infrastructure, particularly his work overseeing the country’s high-speed rail network.
A date has not been given for the announcement of the court’s verdict and Mr Liu’s sentence, but it is expected in a matter of weeks. Corruption can be punishable by death in China.
