JOIN USChina's former railways minister Liu Zhijun, who had overseen a number of high-speed railway projects in the country, was today charged with bribery and abuse of power, the latest step in a graft investigation into the scandal-hit railways.
The charges were filed against Liu at Beijing's No 2 Intermediate People's Court.
"The court has accepted the case according to law and will set a trial date," state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
According to the indictment, as a state functionary, Liu sought benefits for others by taking advantage of his position, and accepted financial incentives from others, which were of a huge amount.
The indictment said as a member of staff of a state organ, Liu engaged in malpractices for personal gains and abuse of power, leading to huge losses of public properties and of the interests of the state and its people.
With "especially serious circumstances," Liu should be subject to criminal liabilities for bribe taking and abuse of power according to law, the Xinhua report said.
A inquiry report released by the Railways last year said Liu, the longest serving railway minister, who was dismissed in 2011 was charged with political and ethical misconducts, many of which are closely linked to Ding Shumiao, an executive of the
Beijing Boyou Investment Management Corp.
Liu, 60 took advantage of his position to help Ding make huge illicit gains, state media reported.
Liu was appointed vice minister of railways in 1996 and minister in 2003. He was removed from his post and came under investigation in February 2011.
China's railway system has faced numerous problems over the past few years, including heavy debts from funding new high-speed lines, waste and fraud.
Since assuming leadership of the Communist Party, Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to crack down on corruption.
Last month, China dissolved the railways ministry in a raft of measures aimed at boosting government efficiency and tackling corruption, placing its functions under the transport ministry.