The trial of Zhao Yucun, the former head of Shenzhen customs, who is accused of amassing nine million yuan in bribes with his two daughters, has opened in Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court.
Court investigations show that Zhao had close connections with Shenzhen Huiwei Industry and Trade Company Ltd and it is alleged that he once helped the company dodge taxes and smuggle automobiles.
According to the court indictment, from 1995 to March 1997, Zhao help the company buy 201 confiscated automobiles from Shenzhen customhouse.
During that time, the company also bought 13,000 tons of crude sugar from the Customhouse with Zhao's permission, it is claimed.
The company obtained large profits from the two deals.
In 1996, Zhao is accused of helping the company set up a public bonded warehouse which was used in smuggling more than 420,000 tons of vegetable oil and dodging 2.73 billion yuan of taxes.
In return, Yang Gaiqing, general manager of the company, bribed Zhao a total of 30,000 US dollars and a Rolex watch, costing 68, 000 yuan.
Zhao's daughters, Zhao Ying and Zhao Ping, received 5.14 million HK dollars, an apartment in Hong Kong worth three million HK dollars, an apartment in Shenzhen worth over 900,000 yuan and a Mercedes Benz car costing 390,000 yuan from Yang under Zhao's acquiescence.
The case continues.
( March 20, 2002)
