Qin Guangrong, a former senior legislator and ex-Party chief of Yunnan province, pleaded guilty to taking bribes of 23.89 million yuan ($3.49 million) at Chengdu Intermediate People's Court in Sichuan province on Thursday.

From 2003 to 2014, Qin made use of his positions, including as provincial Party secretary, governor and vice-governor, to help some departments and individuals benefit from construction projects, equity transfers and job promotions. In return, he accepted bribes directly or through his relatives from 2000 to 2018, according to the prosecuting authority in Chengdu.

Sentencing will be announced at a later date, the court added.

More than 30 people, including journalists and deputies to the National People's Congress, the country's top legislative body, attended the hearing.

Qin, 69, surrendered in May last year and was placed under investigation for serious violations of discipline and law by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission.

Qin was accused of taking bribes in November 2019 after the case was transferred to the Supreme People's Procuratorate from the National Supervisory Commission.

The anti-graft watchdog said the investigation found Qin lost his faith, abandoned his original aspiration, disobeyed Party disciplines and was no longer loyal to the Party.

He was found to have participated in superstitious activities and to have visited private clubs.

He also accepted vacation trips provided by private companies, obtained gifts excessively and intervened in the transfer of mineral resources.

The watchdog added that his family was also corrupt.