Chinese official in "Diarygate" stands trial in SW China

A government official in southwest China, whose alleged graft diary was posted online, told a court Thursday that his behavior was a breach of discipline rather than the law.

Former tobacco official Han Feng, 53, appeared at Nanning Municipal Intermediate People's Court, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, charged with taking bribes worth 1.01 million yuan (148,324 U.S. dollars).

The scandal around Han was dubbed "Diarygate" by the Chinese media. His diary appeared online in March describing his casual sex, drinking parties and under-the-table payments.

Han admitted taking some of the payments detailed in his diary, but claimed this was a violation of discipline rather than illegal activities.

Procutors allege Han took the the bribes in exchange for awarding contracts for the refurbishment and construction of office buildings when he worked as head of the Tobacco Monopoly Bureau in Qinzhou and Laibin cities in Guangxi.

The diaries detailed his extramarital affairs with five women, but no mention was made of this in court.

Some online postings suggested the diary was published online by the husband of one of Han's mistresses. However, this information was not substantiated by police.

The trial continues.

Source: Xinhua