China’s Jiang Jiemin raises no objections at his trial for corruption and bribery

A top official who led China's biggest petroleum company and was later assigned to oversee state-owned companies admitted in court yesterday that he was guilty of corruption and abuse of power, the court said.

"My family property went far beyond what my legal income could afford," said Jiang Jiemin , according to a statement posted on the microblog of the Hanjiang Intermediate People's Court in Hubei province. "I admit my crimes and express my regret."

The hearing ended yesterday afternoon and a date for sentencing was not announced.

Jiang is a former chairman of the state-run China National Petroleum Corporation, which has been the target of a graft investigation amid a larger anti-corruption campaign that has netted top officials and others.

Jiang was charged with taking bribes, possessing a large number of assets from unidentified sources and abusing his position at a state-owned enterprise.

Jiang, either directly or through his wife, received bribes worth about 14 million yuan (HK$17.7 million) from 14 sources between 2004 and 2013, state-run Xinhua reported, citing prosecution documents.