Former officials ‘looted city treasury’ to pay huge salaries

Six former officials of the scandal-ridden city of Bell go on trial this week in a massive corruption case that nearly bankrupted the Los Angeles suburb.

The former mayor and vice mayor and four former City Council members are charged with misappropriation of public funds in a 20-count felony complaint.

Prosecutors claim they looted the city’s treasury in order to pay themselves exorbitant salaries. The complaint says sham commissions were created to enrich the defendants.