Chongqing Judicial Official Faces Trial

The former director of the justice bureau in southwestern China's Chongqing Municipality, Wen Qiang, went to trial February 2, for charges including graft, shielding criminals and rape.

Wen, 55, who had worked in the local judicial system for over a decade, is being tried along with his wife, Zhou Xiaoya and three other top police officials. He was charged with receiving bribes totaling over 10 million yuan.

The proceedings are expected to last five days, according to the local court. His attorney said the trial for the rape of a university student would not be open to the public.

The trial of Wen, the most senior official brought down in Chongqing's anti-organized crime campaign launched last June, attracted great media attention.

On the same day, Li Zhuang, known as the lawyer formerly representing an alleged Chongqing gang leader, shocked court observers in the capitulation of his first sentence appeal.

On February 2, Li stated to the judge that the January trial was based on "clear facts and sound evidence," a verbal revision of his grounds for appeal according to local news portal, Hua Long Net.

However, Li maintains the status of his appeal, and is still pursuing a reduced sentence.

Li was sentenced to 30 months in jail on January 8 for pressuring a client to give false testimony. The case has raised public debate over issues of due process and protection for litigators.