A former prefecture governor stood trial in southwest China's Yunnan Province on Thursday over bribery and power abuse charges.

Yang Hongwei, 49, former governor of Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Region of Yunnan, and his wife were accused by prosecutors of taking bribes worth more than 10 million yuan (1.65 million U.S. dollars) from 2003 to 2011.

Prosecutors told the Intermediate People's Court of Dali Prefecture that Yang took the advantage of his government posts to benefit individuals and firms in construction projects and loan arrangements.

Yang admitted most of the bribery charges but plead not guilty to the charge of abusing power of the government position, insisting that he did nothing wrong in the decisions concerning the construction projects.

Yang was removed from the post and expelled from the Communist Party of China last year.

The court did not make the verdict on Thursday.