Former vice chief of Sichuan provincial committee of Communist Party of China (CPC), Li Chuncheng, stood trial on Thursday in a court in Xianning City, central China's Hubei Province.

Former vice chief of the Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China Li Chuncheng stands trial at the Xianning Municipal Intermediate People's Court in Xianning, central China's Hubei Province, April 23, 2015. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

The Xianning Municipal Intermediate People's Court held the public trial. Li, present in court with his defense counsel, was prosecuted for accepting bribes and abuse of power. Representatives of the procuratorate were present in court to support the public prosecution.

In the morning session, a court investigation was held on "the facts of Li's accepting bribes and abuse of power," as well as the circumstances of sentencing.

Prosecutors pointed out that between 1999 and 2012, Li abused his power to seek profits for others in land development and project contracts, and illegally accepted money and goods directly or through his wife, which constitutes the crime of accepting bribes.

Prosecutors presented bank materials, accounting credentials, project contracts, pictures, witnesses' testimonies, the defendant's statement and self-defense and judicial authentication among other evidence.

Both prosecutors and the defendant cross-examined the evidence in court. Li did not object the allegation.

The presiding judge said both sides had fully voiced their opinions on the presented evidence. A collegial panel will discuss the case and decide according to the law.

Both sides also presented their view on the conviction, sentencing, evidence and application of the law during the court debate.

The court began hearing the case at about 8:30 a.m. The presiding judge announced an adjournment at noon and the trial continued in the afternoon.

More than 60 people, including deputies to people's congresses, political advisors, court supervisors, journalists and ordinary citizens observed the trial.

Investigation of the case was completed by the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the case was transferred to Xianning People's Procuratorate on Feb. 11. for prosecution.

Prosecutors filed the charges on March 19 to the court, which formed the collegial panel. The court sent Li a copy of the statement of charges and informed him of his legal rights.

The collegial panel held a pretrial meeting of prosecutors, the defendant and defense attorneys to hear opinions.