A senior Party official in Chengdu went on trial on Wednesday accused of taking more than 11 million yuan (US$1.3 million) in bribes, reported Sichuan Daily.

Gao Yong, a former executive member of the Sichuan provincial capital's Communist Party of China committee, is accused of taking bribes between 1996 and 2004.

Investigators found that Gao owns 9.34 million yuan (US$1.1 million) worth of assets, the source of which cannot be traced.

The report said the trial could last three days.

Between 1996 and 2004 Gao held a series of posts, such as vice-head of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan, vice-director of the Chengdu securities management office of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, and director of the commission's Guiyang office.

Exploiting of his positions, Gao allegedly asked for money and goods from several securities companies in Sichuan totaling 8.5 million yuan (US$1.02 million), according to the report.

Authorities also believe Gao received more than 2.6 million yuan (US$314,000) from several other Sichuan companies in return for helping them.

A large amount of gold, cash, foreign currency and a number of cars were found at Gao's home and office, the report said.

They confiscated and froze Gao's assets, totaling 21.67 million yuan (US$2.6 million).

Investigators estimated the amount of money Gao took illegally stood at 11 million yuan (US$1.3 million) after deducting his and his wife's legal income over recent years.

Yesterday, Shanghai People's Procuratorate announced that ninety-five corruption cases involving nearly 24 million yuan (US$2.9 million) were uncovered in the municipality in the first three months of this year.

One hundred and three people will be prosecuted for embezzling public funds, taking or giving bribes, and misusing public money.

(China Daily April 15, 2005)