Businesswoman on trial for bribery, illegal operation

BEIJING - A businesswoman implicated along with former railways minister Liu Zhijun stood trial on Tuesday in a Beijing court on bribery and illegal business operation charges.

Ding Yuxin, also known as Ding Shumiao, is the former legal representative of Beijing Broad Union Investment Management Company. She is accused of illegally obtaining huge economic advantages from 2004 to 2011 in cargo transportation and railway construction contracts, through the influence of Liu.

In return, she gave Liu 49 million yuan (8 million U.S. dollars) between 2008 and 2010. Liu, railways minister from 2003 to early 2011, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for bribery and abuse of power on July 8.

The trial opened at Beijing No.2 Intermediate People's Court on Tuesday morning and ended on Tuesday afternoon. Ding confessed to the crimes. Sentencing will be announced later.

The 58-year-old tycoon was also charged with giving a former senior official with the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development more than 40 million yuan as to publicize her charity activities and build a "positive image" for her.

Between 2007 and 2010, Ding, in cooperation with others, helped 23 companies win bids for 57 railway construction projects in violation of state regulations, taking more than two billion yuan in commission, according to prosecutors.