Wang Jiping (right), former director of the Beijing Local Taxation Bureau, heads to trial in Beijing First Intermediate People`s Court on Monday. Photo: CFP
Wang Jiping (right), former director of the Beijing Local Taxation Bureau, heads to trial in Beijing First Intermediate People`s Court on Monday. Photo: CFP
The trial of a former director of the Beijing Local Taxation Bureau began on Monday in the Beijing First Intermediate People`s Court, 10 days after the original start date was rescheduled for an undisclosed reason.
Prosecutors allege Wang Jiping accumulated 10.47 million yuan ($1.6 million) through corruption and 4.35 million yuan by collecting bribes. Wang denied the allegations before the court on Monday.
Information on the trial is scarce because the court`s media office refused to release details, but Wang`s lawyers said they have proof of his innocence, according to Beijing Evening News.
The paper said Wang`s lawyer, Yuan Wei from the JT&N Law Firm based in Beijing, claimed to have a solid case supporting his not guilty plea.
"Wang is accused of making 10.47 million yuan through corruption, but he never saw the `corrupt money` since it was in company accounts," Yuan told the report.
He refused to reveal any more details about the case on Monday.
Authorities alleged Wang facilitated an agreement between his mistress, Zhao Yun, and the tax bureau to invest in creating a new company selling fiscal processors to merchants.
She then sold them to the new company above the quoted price, pocketing the difference.
A staff member at the 12366 tax service hotline told the Global Times on Monday that the prices for such a device range from 2,400 to 3,700 yuan a piece.
According to the indictment, from 2002 to 2009, Wang also steered contracts for bureau projects toward his relatives, in return he collected 4.35 million yuan worth of bribes.
The woman who blew the whistle on the alleged scam is the mistress of one of Wang`s staff members.
Before Wang`s trial, his former subordinates Ren Yina and Peng Yingbin were sentenced to life and 13 years imprisonment. Diao Weilie, one of Wang`s underlings, and Zhao Yun stood trial earlier this month.
Wang Fangliang, lawyer from the Beijing`s Zhongqi Law Firm, told the Global Times on Monday that if the court accepted the accusation, he will get a sentence of at least 10-year imprisonment, but maybe a life sentence or the death penalty.
