Former Chongqing Party Secretary Sun Zhengcai. Photo:Xinhua.

The trial of Sun Zhengcai, 54, a former member of the Chinese Politburo, in Tianjin city had more than 130 people attending, including defense lawyers, people's representatives and the press, according toSCMP.

Sun Zhengcai was removed from his post as Chongqing party secretary last July and placed under investigation for alleged bribery during a party leadership reshuffle. In February 2018, prosecutors accused Sun of abusing his position for personal gain and accepting “huge sums of money” in bribes.

Prosecutors also said some other charges related to Sun's violations when he was a district party secretary in Beijing in 2002, until he became agriculture minister, then party secretary of Jilin province and party secretary of Chongqing.

Sun was the youngest member of the Chinese Politburo before his fall. He was also considered a strong candidate for the Politburo Standing Committee, the seven-member body considered to be the most powerful.

Sun was one of the most senior politicians to be ousted in Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign. After Sun was removed from office, Chen Min'er, a political confidant of President Xi Jinping and a rising star in China, replaced Sun as Chongqing Party Secretary.

The Tianjin court has tried several high-ranking Chinese politicians accused of corruption, including former Politburo Standing Committee member Zhou Yongkang and former head of the party's central office Ling Jihua. Both are serving prison sentences for accepting bribes, illegally profiting or leaking state secrets, and abusing their power.