Accusations include accepting bribes worth 10.45 million yuan

SHANGHAI - Tao Xiao-xing, former deputy director of the Shanghai municipal housing support and building administration bureau, stood trial on Monday at a local court in Shanghai on suspicion of accepting more than 10 million yuan ($1.52 million) in bribes.

Tao, 59, was alleged to have accepted bribes of 10.45 million yuan from individuals and companies after he helped them in processes concerning land use between 2000 and 2008, when he was in charge of land supply and use.

The bribes consisted of 3.29 million yuan, $30,000 and HK$500,000 ($64,200), a shop unit and a Cartier wristwatch.

During the trial at the Shanghai No 2 People's Court, Tao said he had no objection to the statement of charges in the bill of indictment.

Tao said he failed to live up to the expectation of people and hoped that he could be rehabilitated and given a new life.

Tao did not hire a lawyer for the trial and rejected a court-appointed one.

Sources said Tao is a distant relative of Que Jingde, a shareholder of the developer of a building in Minhang district that collapsed on June 27, 2009, while under construction, killing one person, according to xinmin.cn, a Shanghai-based news website.

The sources went on to say that Tao had abused his power to benefit Que and other relatives. Tao's son has worked as vice-manager of a company Que invested in, according to xinmin.cn.

So far Tao is the third official of the division level or above in charge of housing supply and administration in Shanghai to have been charged with taking bribes.

Before him, Zhu Wenjin, former director of Shanghai municipal housing support and building administration bureau's land management division, and Yin Guoyuan, the bureau's former deputy director, were sentenced for abuse of power and accepting bribes.

Zhu was sentenced to 15 years' jail and Yin, who was found guilty of taking bribes worth 36.71 million yuan, was given the death sentence with a two-year reprieve.

Tao served as deputy governor of Shanghai's Songjiang county before being transferred to Shanghai's housing authorities in 1998. He later became deputy director of Shanghai housing and land resources bureau and then vice-director of Shanghai municipal housing support and building administration bureau.

The judgment in Tao's case will be pronounced at a later date, the court said.

China Daily