FORMER Beijing municipal traffic police chief Song Jianguo stood trial yesterday over accepting bribes totaling 23.9 million yuan (US$3.85 million).

    However, the defendant challenged part of the charges in the Beijing First Intermediate People’s Court, saying a case involving 15.3 million yuan is not related to bribery.

    Prosecutors say between 2004 and 2014, Song took advantage of his position to reap 23.9 million by providing a number of individuals special vehicle license plates that were exclusively for government use.

    Zhao Yunheng, one of the defendant’s lawyers, contended that money concerning the license plates accounts for only a fraction of the alleged amount of bribery.

    He argued that Song got 15.3 million yuan for brokering purchases of some valuable artwork for his friend.

    He added that the artwork was sold in accordance with market price and there was no bribery involved whatsoever.

    The lawyer also insisted that Song’s providing vehicle plates did not interfere in the city’s registration lottery scheme because those who got the plates from him already had ones.

    Song Jianguo was expelled from the Party in August 2014 before being officially charged by municipal public prosecutors in February.

    (SD-Agencies)