Former environment official stands trial for graft

BEIJING -- A former vice minister of environmental protection stood trial on Monday for accepting bribes.

Zhang Lijun was accused of taking advantage of his various official posts from 1998 to 2013, to seek benefits for others in regard of product distribution, project approval, personnel promotion and employment.

In exchange, he accepted bribes worth over 2.42 million yuan ($362,816 dollars), according to the indictment.

The second branch of the People's Procuratorate of Beijing Municipality filed the charges with Beijing Second Intermediate People's Court.

More than 50 people, including Zhang's relatives, journalists and members of the public, attended the hearing.

The court ruling will be announced at a later date.