Former party boss faces trial over accepting "extremely
large" bribes in scandal stemming from murder of businessman.
China's once-powerful politician Bo Xilai has
been indicted for bribery, corruption and abuse of power, according to state
media.
The former party chief of the southwestern city of Chongqing has
not been seen in public for more than a year since the controversy surrounding
him was exposed, triggering one of China's biggest political scandals in
decades.
The 63-year-old's
wife, Gu Kailai, and his former police chief, Wang Lijun, have both been jailed
over the scandal stemming from the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood.
The government in
September last year accused Bo of corruption and of bending the law to hush up
that murder.
The indictment
paper was delivered to a court in Jinan in the eastern province of Shandong,
state news agency Xinhua said, citing prosecutors. Bo "took the advantage
of his position to seek profits for others and accepted an 'extremely
large amount' of money and properties," it said, quoting the indictment.
The downfall of
Bo, once one of 25 members of the Politburo of China's ruling Communist Party,
exposed corruption allegations and deep divisions at the highest levels of
government.
The scandal
emerged last year when Bo's police chief and right-hand man Wang fled to a US
consulate, reportedly seeking asylum.
Poisonous Relationship
It came ahead of a
once-a-decade leadership transition last November, in which Bo had been
considered a candidate for the Politburo Standing Committee, which currently
has seven members and is China's most powerful body.
Bo's wife was
given a suspended death sentence last August for fatally poisoning businessman
and family friend Neil Heywood. The penalty is normally commuted to a life
sentence in China.
Wang was sentenced
to 15 years in prison in September for defection and other crimes. Official
media said last year Bo had "borne major responsibility" for the
murder of Heywood, had taken "massive" bribes and had indulged in
inappropriate sexual relations with "multiple women".
Bo has appointed
two lawyers for the trial, both of whom are members of a law firm which has
close ties to the ruling party.
News of the trial
comes at a time when the party is trying to show it is cracking down on
corruption and government waste.
The trial
could begin as early as this week, according to an inside
source speaking to Reuters news agency on condition of anonymity.
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