The local procuratorate accused Chen of accepting bribes, which totaled 1 million yuan (US$121,000) from 2000 to 2001for 11 times from a local businessman.

The businessman had run a construction company, which had obtained a contract to build a government-funded real estate project. In exchange for the bribe money, Chen gave the company preferential policies and timely government funding.

Chen confessed to the crime and returned the illicit money.

(Xinhua News Agency October 21, 2002)