Meng Hongwei. Photo: IC

Meng Hongwei, former vice minister of public security of China, pleaded guilty on Thursday to accepting 14.46 million yuan ($2.09 million)  in bribes in an open trial in North China's Tianjin.  

Meng, also the former head of China's Coast Guard, was accused by prosecutors of taking advantage of the convenience, power and status generated from his posts to seek benefits for others, illegally accepting money and gifts worth more than 14.46 million yuan from 2005 to 2017, the People's Daily reported.

Meng pleaded guilty to the charges and repented at the trial at the First Intermediate People's Court of Tianjin. 

The court was adjourned and a verdict will be made at a later date.

Meng was expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and dismissed from public office for serious violations of Party discipline and laws, China's top anti-graft body, the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, announced in a statement on March 27, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Meng was elected as president of Interpol, based in Lyon, France, in 2016, becoming the first Chinese official to take the post. Before serving as Interpol president, Meng was vice minister of public security and head of China Coast Guard. 

Global Times