A road official suspected of being involved in China's worst bridge collapse last year has been taken to court over corruption charges.

Wu Zhihua, an official with the road administration of Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture of Tujia and Miao Nationalities in Hunan Province, faces the charge of lowering technical standards of the bridge's main arch without the approval of the designer, according to the People's Court of Mayang Miao Nationality Autonomous County.

Wu, also former deputy general manager of Fengda Co., proprietor of the bridge in Fenghuang County, and chief engineer of the construction project, was suspected of having taken bribes from contractors and consultants.

However, the court did not reveal the amount of the bribes.

The 328-meter-long bridge, which was under construction over the Tuojiang River, collapsed on August 13, 2007, burying workers under the rubble.

China's State Council said at the end of last year that 24 people would stand trial for their involvement in the tragedy that killed 64 and injured 22.

The government announced later that 32 officials were disciplined for their involvement in the collapse, China's deadliest, confirming that the collapse was a man-made accident.

The 32 officials include some from the local communication department and road authorities.

(Xinhua News Agency May 10, 2008)