HEFEI, April 2 -- A former senior official in east China's Jiangxi Province stood trial on Thursday for alleged bribe-taking.

The hearing of Chen Anzhong, former deputy director of the standing committee of the provincial people's congress, was held at the Intermediate People's Court in Bengbu City of neighboring Anhui Province.

The people's procuratorate of Bengbu charged Chen with taking bribes worth more than 8.1 million yuan (about 1.3 million U.S. dollars) from companies and individuals between 1996 and 2013.

In return, Chen helped them win bank loans, project contracts and job promotions by taking advantage of his position, according to the indictment.

Chen successively served as mayor or party chief in several cities in Hunan and Jiangxi provinces before climbing to the post in the provincial people's congress. He was removed from his position in late 2013.

He pleaded guilty. A verdict will be given on another day.