Alleged smuggler on trial

Lai Changxing, the alleged kingpin of a notorious smuggling ring, went on trial on Friday on charges of smuggling and bribery.

The charges against Lai were filed in February by the People's Procuratorate of Xiamen, in Fujian province, and his trial is being held in the Intermediate People's Court of Xiamen.

Before the proceedings began, the court had sent an indictment to Lai and told his lawyer to meet with Lai to gain access to files pertaining to the case.

A court statement released on Friday said the litigation rights of both Lai and his lawyer have been fully protected.

Representatives for the prosecution and defense took part in the trial. Many local residents, officials and lawmakers, as well as some of Lai's family and friends, also attended the proceedings.

Lai, 53, the chief suspect in smuggling operations that date to the 1990s in Xiamen, a coastal city in Fujian province, fled to Canada about 13 years ago.

After he was repatriated to China on July 23, 2011, he was arrested and investigated for smuggling and bribery.

A statement released in December 2011 by the local customs' anti-smuggling agency and the Xiamen prosecutor's office accused Lai of running a criminal ring that smuggled cigarettes, cars, petroleum, cooking oil, chemicals, equipment and other goods past Xiamen customs authorities from 1996 to 1999.

He is also accused of bribing dozens of government officials and of ordering his subordinates to do the same.