Wang Jiping, former?director of the Beijing tax authority, denied embezzling public funds of more than 10 million yuan (US$1.6 million) and taking bribes of more than 4 million yuan when he appeared in court Monday, the Beijing Times reported.

Wang, 63, was charged to embezzle more than 10.47 million yuan while buying tax payment machines between 2002 and 2004, according to the local prosecutors.

The court told that when Wang became director, he teamed up with Zhao Yun, a tax payment machine supplier, to sell the machines to the bureau at a higher-than-usual price. The two skimmed the extra money.

However, Wang claimed in court that all the money had gone to Zhao's company account and he had received none of it.

Wang was also charged bribery over 4.35 million yuan from Shandong Langchao Company and individuals between 2002 and 2009.

No verdict was announced.

Four other people, including Zhao and three more Beijing tax officials, have been accused of corruption. Two have been sentenced.