WUHAN, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Liu Handong, a former senior legislator in east China's Jiangsu Province, stood trial on Thursday, charged with accepting bribes, abusing his power and selling land-use rights illegally.

The case was heard at a court in the city of Xiangyang, Hubei Province.

Liu, former vice chairman of the standing committee of the Jiangsu Provincial People's Congress, was accused of taking advantage of his various posts in Jiangsu to provide assistance to others in matters such as land sales, corporate operations and career changes, and of illegally accepting money and gifts worth over 245 million yuan (about 34.4 million U.S. dollars) in return.

Liu was also accused of abusing his power in the sale and recovery of land-use rights, and in land-related value-added tax exemptions, resulting in significant public property losses and harming the interests of the country and the people, prosecutors said.

The indictment also accused Liu of colluding with others to seek profits by engaging in the illegal sale of land-use rights in violation of land management regulations.

Prosecutors presented their evidence during the trial, and the defendant and his defense counsel cross-examined that evidence. Both sides gave their respective accounts, according to a court statement.

A verdict will be announced in due course. Enditem

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