Fallen flower baron Yang Bin, once ranked China's second richest man, went on trial Wednesday on commercial crime charges at the Shenyang Intermediate People's Court in the northeastern industrial city of Shenyang, Liaoning Province.

The trial, expected to last for at least two days, lasted seven hours Wednesday, during which prosecutors raised charges of fraud in investment and illegally occupying farmland.

Other charges against Yang such as financial defraud and receipt forgery will be heard in Thursday's trial.

If convicted, Yang could face life imprisonment, Wen Wei Po reported.

About 40 people, including Yang's aunt, former colleagues and a Dutch diplomat, attended the trial.

The 40-year-old Dutch national, listed as China's second richest man by Forbes magazine in 2001, was detained just days after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea named him head of a new free-trade zone that was to be built on the border with China.

Yang was also head of orchid exporter Euro-Asia Agricultural (Holdings) Co Ltd, a Hong Kong-listed company. The firm branched out into other businesses, including building a Dutch-themed real-estate development in Shenyang.

Lawyer Tian Wenchang declined comment on what plea Yang would enter or the maximum penalty he faced. "We will see when the case opens."

Tian and his team have been in Shenyang for a month preparing for the trial, said an employee of his firm who refused to give her name.

Yang moved to the Netherlands in 1987. He ran a Dutch textile firm before returning to China with US$20 million seven years later to start his flower business. Yang was noted for his lavish lifestyle, fast cars and private plane.

Yang was placed under house arrest in October. Official media say authorities began investigating him after ordering him to pay back taxes. He said he'd agreed to pay tax authorities US$1.2 million.

In November, Yang was formally arrested on charges of fraud, offering bribes and illegally occupying farmland.

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