Former top leader of Chinese city of Guangzhou admits guilt

  Dec. 24 2015

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In this Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 photo, Wan Qingliang, then the vice governor of Guangdong province, poses for a photo at the groundbreaking ceremony of the new U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou in southern China's Guangdong province. The Nanning Intermediate People's Court in China said Friday, Dec. 25, 2015, that Wan wept in court as he confessed to taking $17 million in bribes while holding various government positions in Guangdong from 2000 to 2014. (Chinatopix via AP) CHINA OUT

BEIJING (AP) — A former top official for China's prosperous southern city of Guangzhou wept in court as he confessed to taking $ 17 million in bribes, the court said Friday.

The Nanning Intermediate People's Court said in a written statement that Wan Qingliang raised no objection to the corruption charge and showed remorse when he stood trial.

The court will announce the verdict on a later date it didn't specify. It said Wan took the bribes from 15 companies and individuals from 2000 to 2014, when he served in various government positions in Guangdong.

Wan last served as the party chief for Guangzhou, one of the most prosperous cities in China. As the party chief, he ranked above the mayor and was the city's most senior official.

He came under investigation in 2014 amid a widening anti-corruption campaign launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who came into power in early 2013.

Xi has warned that widespread corruption threatens the Communist Party's rule over China.

Wan told the court in his final statement that he felt he had let down the party, the people and his family, the court said.