A former deputy court chief in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality stood trial Friday in neighboring Guizhou Province for bribery and gang-related charges, authorities said.

Zhang Tao, former deputy chief of Chongqing's Higher People's Court, faced charges of taking bribes and protecting mafia-style gangs, said officials with the procuratorate of Zunyi City, Guizhou.

The trial was held at the Intermediate People's Court of Zunyi City, which was designated by the Supreme People's Court. Zhang's past role in Chongqing meant that he could not be tried there.

Zhang was suspected to have taken bribes worth more than 9 million yuan (1.33 million U.S. dollars) from 1999 to 2009.

A court spokesman said a verdict would be announced at a later date.