Song Yong, former vice chairman of the Liaoning Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee in northeast China, went on trial Friday in a Beijing court on charges of taking bribes.

He was accused of taking 10.2 million yuan (1.6 million U.S.dollars) in bribes between 2000 and 2009 by abusing his posts as local government officials and a provincial legislator to acquire advantages for 23 individuals and units in their receiving project contracts, loans, promotion and other matters.

Friday's trial at the Beijing Second Intermediate People's Court was the first trial in Song's case.

Song, who just turned 56, was dismissed from the Communist Party of China and removed from his official post last February for accepting these bribes.

The court said it would announce its verdict on a different day.