The first instance trial of Liu Handong, former deputy director of the Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial People's Congress, on charges of bribery, abuse of power, and illegal land use rights speculation, has commenced.
On a certain date, the Intermediate People's Court of Xiangyang City, Hubei Province, publicly conducted the first-instance trial of the case involving Liu Handong, former member of the Party Leadership Group and副主任of the Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial People's Congress, on charges of bribery, abuse of power, and illegal land use rights speculation.
The People's Procuratorate of Xiangyang City has filed an indictment alleging that from year to year, defendant Liu Handong, while serving as the Secretary of the Jiangpu County Committee of the Communist Party of China and the County Magistrate of Jiangpu County, Jiangsu Province, the Standing Committee Member of the Nanjing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Secretary of the Pukou District Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Finance and the Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Provincial Local Taxation Bureau, and the Member of the Party Leadership Group of the Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial People's Congress, among other positions, took advantage of his official duties to provide assistance to relevant units and individuals in matters such as land transfer, business operations, and job adjustments. He directly or through others illegally accepted property from the aforementioned units and individuals, totaling approximately RMB . billion.
From year to year, during his tenure as the Secretary of the Jiangpu County Party Committee and the County Magistrate of Jiangpu County, Jiangsu Province, the Standing Committee Member of the Nanjing Municipal Party Committee, the Secretary of the Pukou District Party Committee of Nanjing, and the Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Jiangsu Provincial Finance Department and the Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Provincial Local Taxation Bureau, Liu Handong abused his power in the process of transferring land use rights, compensated recovery, and exemption from land appreciation tax, resulting in significant losses to public property, the state, and the interests of the people, with particularly serious circumstances.
In the year, Liu Handong, in collusion with others, engaged in the illegal sale and purchase of land use rights for profit, in violation of land management regulations, with the circumstances being particularly severe.
The procuratorial authorities have filed a case to pursue criminal liability against Liu Handong for bribery, abuse of power, and illegal land use rights speculation. During the trial, the procuratorial authorities presented relevant evidence, the defendant Liu Handong and his defense counsel conducted cross-examination, both the prosecution and the defense fully expressed their opinions under the guidance of the court, and Liu Handong made a final statement, admitting guilt and expressing remorse in court.
At the end of the trial, the court announced a recess and scheduled a future date for the verdict. More than twenty people, including representatives of the People's Congress, members of the Political Consultative Conference, and representatives from various sectors of society, attended the trial as observers.
