Wen Qiang, the former director of the local judicial bureau and deputy police head, was among four top police officers to stand trial yesterday on charges of protecting mafia-style gangs, bribery and rape.

Wen Qiang (middle), former director of the Chongqing municipal judicial bureau, as well as other suspects, wait for the trial to begin yesterday. [Chongqing No 5 Intermediate People's Court]

Wen, alleged to be "the most senior gang protector" in the region, was detained last August as part of a massive crackdown on gang-related activity. Authorities detained thousands of suspects and 200 officials alleged to be sheltering the crimes of organized criminal gangs.

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The case sparked considerable public interest, and a large crowd of locals gathered outside Chongqing No 5 Intermediate People's Court as the four-day trial opened yesterday. Wen is accused of accepting, or accepting through his wife, bribes amounting to 15.46 million yuan ($2.26 million), rape, protecting gangs, and possessing 10.62 million yuan in assets of an unknown source.

Prosecutors said after accepting the bribes, Wen helped criminals escape police investigation. Prosecutors allege he also helped eight police officers gain promotion, assisted police academy candidates secure places and helped contractors win construction bids.

It's further alleged that Wen, in the role of deputy director of Chongqing municipal police bureau, covered up and connived with six mafia-style gangs.

Addressing the court yesterday, Wen denied accepting bribes and said he did not protect gangs or cover up rape.

"I have never misused my power to earn interest," he said, although he admitted he accepting money offered by other people.

Wen said most of the money given to him, or to his wife, were gifts for his birthday or Spring Festival.

Wen said he believed the gang bosses were businessmen, not criminals, before his detention last August, and was not aware of illegal businesses operated by them.

He admitted accepting money from four "gang bosses" - Wang Xiaojun, Yue Ning, Ma Dang and Gong Gangmo - but denied that he used power to protect them or create obstacles for any police investigation.

According to the indictment filed with the court, Wen accepted 786,536 yuan in bribes from six gang bosses, who have all been charged or convicted during the Chongqing police operation.

The gang bosses are Xie Caiping (Wen's sister-in-law), Ma Dang, Wang Tianlun, Yue Ning, Gong Gangmo and Wang Xiaojun, according to prosecutors.

Most of the gangs were engaged in the operation of gambling dens, loan shark businesses or clubs that harbored drug dealers and prostitutes.

Prosecutors told the court that arguments on the rape charge against Wen would be closed to the public in order to protect the victim's privacy.

In addition to Wen's 57-year-old wife, Zhou Xiaoya, three senior policemen stood trial yesterday. The officers are accused of paying millions of yuan in bribes to Wen in order to secure promotion.

Huang Daiqiang, 48, former deputy head of the criminal police division under the municipal police bureau; Chen Tao, 48, deputy head of the city's public security police division; and Zhao Liming, 50, deputy head of the city's public transportation security police division, also face charges of protecting gangs and other crimes.

Meanwhile, the court was told Huang gave a 183,000 yuan bribe and an Omega watch worth 12,000 yuan to Wen. He is also accused of rape, protecting gangs, accepting bribes and money laundering.

Chen is accused of giving a 465,000 yuan bribe to Wen, and of rape, protecting gangs and accepting bribes.

Zhao is accused of giving a 270,000 yuan and a Chinese landscape painting worth 3.64 million yuan to Wen. He is also charged with corruption, protecting gangs and accepting bribes.