Former senior Shanxi official stands trial for bribery

NANJING -- A former senior official from north China's Shanxi Province went on trial for accepting bribes on Tuesday.

Prosecutors accused Bai Yun, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Shanxi Provincial Committee, of taking advantage of her positions to benefit 17 companies, units or individuals and of accepting money and valuables worth more than 17.81 million yuan ($2.73 million) between 2004 and 2013.

The case was tried at the intermediate court of Nantong City in east China's Jiangsu Province.

Bai, also head of the United Front Work Department of the provincial Party committee, confessed to her crimes during the trial, according to the court. The verdict will be announced on another date.

The CPC discipline inspection agency announced an investigation into Bai for "serious discipline and law violations" in August 2014. Bai was removed from her post a month later and expelled from the CPC in February 2015.