Ding Shumiao, accused of collusion with jailed ex-railways minister, charged with bribery

Ding Shumiao, a Shanxi businesswoman accused of colluding with former railways chief Liu Zhijun over projects worth 180 billion yuan (HK$226 billion), has been indicted on charges of bribery and illegal business activities, Xinhua reported yesterday.

Ding and her family made nearly 4 billion yuan on contracts for the high-speed railway network because of Liu's help, prosecutors at Liu's trial in June said.

Her case has been referred to Beijing No 2 Intermediate People's Court, although a trial date has not been set, nor have detailed charges been released.

Ding was detained by authorities in January 2011. Ding's name appeared more than 20 times in court documents from Liu's bribery and abuse of power trial.

Liu was given a suspended death sentence after being found guilty of taking bribes totalling 64 million yuan, including 49 million yuan from Ding between 2008 to 2010.

Ding, 58, started out as an egg vendor in northern Shanxi province in the early 1980s. She struck gold in the late 1990s when she moved into centralised freight train services after she became acquainted with Liu, who was then the railways vice-minister.