Former official pleads guilty in Heilongjiang corruption case

At a public trial in Qitaihe, Heilongjiang province, on Monday and Tuesday, Zhao Zhonghou, 66, former chairman of the Education, Science, Culture and Health Committee of the Heilongjiang People's Congress, pleaded guilty to taking bribes, embezzlement, holding a huge amount of property with unidentified sources and money laundering.

The trial took place at Qitaihe Intermediate People's Court. The outcome will be announced later, according to a statement released by the court on Tuesday.

Prosecutors from the Qitaihe People's Procuratorate said that from early 2001 to November 2019, Zhao took advantage of his positions to seek benefits for companies and individuals in work promotion, post adjustment, staff recruitment, project contracting and equipment procurement.