Ex-executives of billionaire Guo Wengui go on trial

A court in Kaifeng, Central China's Henan province, started the public hearing of a case on Wednesday morning, in which three former executives of fugitive Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui allegedly defrauded loans and bill acceptances.

Prosecutors accused the three, who worked for Henan Yuda Real Estate Company, controlled by Guo, of fraudulently obtaining loans and bill acceptances more than 40 times from seven banks by making fake contracts and investment projects. The involved money was nearly 1.5 billion yuan ($220 million).

The three defendants are Zhang Xincheng, the ex-financial director of the company, Guo Lijie, the company's former deputy manager, and Xiao Yanling, the former deputy head of the company's financial department. The company was also sued on the same charge.

It is the second trial of a series related with Guo Wengui, who fled abroad about three years ago.

In June, three ex-executives of Beijing Pangu Investment Inc, also controlled by Guo Wengui, were given prison terms for fraudulently obtaining loans and foreign currency of 3.2 billion yuan by using fake materials, seals and contracts in Dalian, Liaoning province.

In April, Interpol issued a "red notice", the closest thing to an international arrest warrant, for Guo Wengui, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.