A former deputy general manager of Sinochem Group, Du Keping, pleads guilty to accepting bribes at his trial in Weihai, Shandong province, Aug 20, 2019. (Photo: Weihai Intermediate People's Court)

A former deputy general manager of Sinochem Group, Du Keping, pleaded guilty to accepting 12.65 million yuan ($1.79 million) in bribes at his trial in Weihai, Shandong province, on Tuesday.

Prosecutors accused Du of taking advantage of his positions — which included being director of the group's fertilizer center and director and general manager of Sinochem Hong Kong Holding — to help some companies operate fertilizer businesses and gain access to ports between 1999 and 2010.

In return, Du accepted money and properties from those companies equivalent to over 12.65 million yuan.

The 58-year-old started working for Sinochem in 1989 and joined the Communist Party of China in 1996. He became general manager of Sinochem Hong Kong Holding in 2006. Four years later he became the group's deputy general manager and a member of its Party committee.

Du was placed under investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission in December.

They said he violated political disciplines, rejected investigation, failed to truthfully report personal affairs and operated businesses. He was also suspected of serious duty-related crimes.

Du was expelled from the Party and removed from his post in June.

The Weihai Intermediate People's Court said it would hand down a sentence later.