CHONGQING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- A senior official accused of misappropriating 218 million yuan (31.9 million U.S. dollars) of public funds went on trial on Friday at a court in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.

    Tang Wenfeng, former head of the Chongqing economic and technical development zone management committee, was accused of lending public funds to two companies in the city between 1997 and2008, the Chongqing Fifth Intermediate People's Court heard.

    Prosecutors said Tang also took bribes of 9.82 million yuan during that period and caused public assets to suffer a direct economic loss of 24 million yuan by abusing his power.

    The court did not reveal further details on the case. It did not reach a verdict for Tang on Friday.