In April 2020, the Communist Party’s disciplinary watchdog announced that Sun had been placed under investigation for serious violations. He was sacked and expelled from the party last year.

In 2018, at the request of others, Sun had given orders for actions that influenced stock trading prices and volumes, the court heard.

“The details of the crime were particularly serious,” prosecutors said.

Sun also violated arms control protocols by illegally possessing two guns.

The CCDI also said “[Sun] never had any real faith or ideals … harboured hugely inflated political ambitions, and was of extremely bad political quality”.

Delivering his final statement in court, Sun expressed remorse and pleaded guilty. The judge adjourned the court to a later date for sentencing.

Both Fu and Sun were former deputy public security ministers and accused of political disloyalty, establishing political factions, and forming groups for personal gain.

In a confession aired by state broadcaster China Central Television as part of a documentary series in January, Sun admitted cultivating a political clique that included senior city and law enforcement officials colluding with businessmen, and accepting huge amounts of money and property in return for favours.

His trial comes just months ahead of the party’s national congress, the latest in a twice-a-decade gathering of the top Chinese leadership expected to feature a major reshuffle and a historic third term for Xi.

Once a rising political star, Sun was appointed vice-minister for public security in 2018 and previously headed the ministry’s Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan Affairs Office.