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China tries to draw line under political scandal with life sentence for Bo Xilai China tries to draw line under political scandal with life sentence for Bo Xilai
(about 1 hour later)
A Chinese court has jailed the disgraced leader Bo Xilai for life for bribery, corruption and power abuses, handing out a relatively tough sentence as leaders attempt to turn the page on an unsavoury political scandal.A Chinese court has jailed the disgraced leader Bo Xilai for life for bribery, corruption and power abuses, handing out a relatively tough sentence as leaders attempt to turn the page on an unsavoury political scandal.
Bo's conviction on the charges, which included interfering with the investigation into his wife's murder of a British businessman, was a foregone conclusion given the Communist party's tight control of the legal system. But he refused to go quietly and analysts suggested his cocksure defence in his five-day trial prompted the relatively harsh ruling on Sunday.Bo's conviction on the charges, which included interfering with the investigation into his wife's murder of a British businessman, was a foregone conclusion given the Communist party's tight control of the legal system. But he refused to go quietly and analysts suggested his cocksure defence in his five-day trial prompted the relatively harsh ruling on Sunday.
Judges at the Jinan intermediate people's court in eastern China said the former Chongqing party boss had "gravely damaged the country and the people's interests" as they handed him sentences of life for bribery, 15 years for embezzlement and seven years for abuse of power, to run concurrently. The ruling also deprived him of political rights for life and confiscated his personal assets.Judges at the Jinan intermediate people's court in eastern China said the former Chongqing party boss had "gravely damaged the country and the people's interests" as they handed him sentences of life for bribery, 15 years for embezzlement and seven years for abuse of power, to run concurrently. The ruling also deprived him of political rights for life and confiscated his personal assets.
Before the hearings, experts had predicted that as a former Politburo member with powerful family connections he was likely to face 15 to 20 years in jail. Before the hearings, experts had predicted that as a former politburo member with powerful family connections he was likely to face 15 to 20 years in jail.
Authorities provided unusual detail of last month's trial, issuing transcripts of key exchanges.Authorities provided unusual detail of last month's trial, issuing transcripts of key exchanges.
"Officials wanted to increase the acceptance of the verdict and support for Xi's leadership and make a good start for his anti-corruption campaign," said the political analyst Wu Qiang. "Officials wanted to increase the acceptance of the verdict and support for [Chinese president] Xi [Jinping]'s leadership and make a good start for his anti-corruption campaign," said the political analyst Wu Qiang.
"However, Bo's defence of himself meant the situation changed, so the verdict was quite tricky in the end.""However, Bo's defence of himself meant the situation changed, so the verdict was quite tricky in the end."
A shot released by officials showed the 64-year-old smiling as he faced the judges, handcuffed and wearing an open-necked white shirt, black trousers and black running shoes.A shot released by officials showed the 64-year-old smiling as he faced the judges, handcuffed and wearing an open-necked white shirt, black trousers and black running shoes.
He has 10 days to launch an appeal, but did not tell the court whether he would do so; in any case, it would be unlikely to succeed.He has 10 days to launch an appeal, but did not tell the court whether he would do so; in any case, it would be unlikely to succeed.
"He didn't admit his crime in the first trial, so he will definitely appeal," said Gu Yushu, a lawyer who was appointed by Bo's sister but not permitted to represent the politician."He didn't admit his crime in the first trial, so he will definitely appeal," said Gu Yushu, a lawyer who was appointed by Bo's sister but not permitted to represent the politician.
"[The verdict] is entirely unjustified. The evidence is insufficient … Key witnesses, such as Gu Kailai [Bo's wife], did not appear in court." "[The verdict] is entirely unjustified. The evidence is insufficient … Key witnesses, such as Gu Kailai [Bo's wife], did not appear in court."
Medical parole might well win Bo an early release. The difference between a life sentence and lengthy set term is more symbolic than substantive, noted one scholar. Medical parole may well win Bo an early release. The difference between a life sentence and lengthy set term is more symbolic than substantive, noted one scholar.
The judges dismissed the defence argument that Bo's initial testimony was given under duress and that Gu's evidence was inadmissible due to mental illness.The judges dismissed the defence argument that Bo's initial testimony was given under duress and that Gu's evidence was inadmissible due to mental illness.
They ruled that Bo embezzled 5m yuan (£500,000) and received the equivalent of more than 20m yuan (£2m) in bribes from two businessmen, either directly or via his family – rejecting his defence that he did not know about the gifts, which included a luxurious French villa. They found a small section of the bribery charges against him unproven. They ruled that Bo embezzled 5m yuan (£500,000) and received the equivalent of more than 20m yuan in bribes from two businessmen, either directly or via his family – rejecting his defence that he did not know about the gifts, which included a luxurious French villa. They found a small section of the bribery charges against him unproven.
The case steered well clear of what most regarded as the significant issues: the brutality of his tenure in Chongqing, which alarmed liberals for its ruthlessness, and tussles within the leadership. Bo polarised people inside and outside the party.The case steered well clear of what most regarded as the significant issues: the brutality of his tenure in Chongqing, which alarmed liberals for its ruthlessness, and tussles within the leadership. Bo polarised people inside and outside the party.
"We all know Bo's real crime was to do with 'striking the black' [his anti-gang crackdown, which saw the widespread use of torture]. To not mention this crime, while mentioning corruption and bribery – it is pointless. It is aimed at destroying his reputation," said the political scientist Zhang Ming, who added that it had not been very successful in that regard."We all know Bo's real crime was to do with 'striking the black' [his anti-gang crackdown, which saw the widespread use of torture]. To not mention this crime, while mentioning corruption and bribery – it is pointless. It is aimed at destroying his reputation," said the political scientist Zhang Ming, who added that it had not been very successful in that regard.
Three of Bo's family members were among the 116 people present to hear the verdict, announced on the court microblog account and by the state news agency Xinhua.Three of Bo's family members were among the 116 people present to hear the verdict, announced on the court microblog account and by the state news agency Xinhua.
Hundreds of police guarded the closed-off streets around the courthouse, allowing only residents and accredited reporters to enter and ensuring no protesters could approach.Hundreds of police guarded the closed-off streets around the courthouse, allowing only residents and accredited reporters to enter and ensuring no protesters could approach.
Li Xiaolin, a lawyer close to the Bo family, said he believed Bo would be sent to Qincheng prison – a relatively luxurious facility near Beijing where ousted senior officials usually serve their sentence.Li Xiaolin, a lawyer close to the Bo family, said he believed Bo would be sent to Qincheng prison – a relatively luxurious facility near Beijing where ousted senior officials usually serve their sentence.
The verdict is intended to draw a line beneath a messy affair that cast an unflattering and unwelcome light on the country's political elite, clearing the way for a key party meeting this autumn. The scandal was triggered by Bo's row with his police chief Wang Lijun, who fled to the US consulate in Chengdu and accused Gu of murdering Neil Heywood. She was convicted and jailed last year. The verdict is intended to draw a line under a messy affair that cast an unflattering and unwelcome light on the country's political elite, clearing the way for a key party meeting this autumn. The scandal was triggered by Bo's row with his police chief Wang Lijun, who fled to the US consulate in Chengdu and accused Gu of murdering Neil Heywood. She was convicted and jailed last year.
In the hours before the judgment, the Jinan court's microblog published a quote which it misattributed to the British jurist Lord Denning: "Justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done."In the hours before the judgment, the Jinan court's microblog published a quote which it misattributed to the British jurist Lord Denning: "Justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done."
Neither Bo's supporters nor his critics are likely to take that remark at face value.Neither Bo's supporters nor his critics are likely to take that remark at face value.
Kong Qingdong, a high-profile leftist, wrote on his microblog that in light of the judgment he urged the trial of all officials who were corrupt or abused power. Kong Qingdong, a high-profile leftwinger, wrote on his microblog that in light of the judgment he urged the trial of all officials who were corrupt or abused power.
The verdict was "the outcome of a political trial, one that failed to provide due process to Bo, failed to provide justice to his victims, and failed to provide the truth about his abuses of power to the Chinese public," wrote Nicholas Bequelin of Human Rights Watch. The verdict was "the outcome of a political trial, one that failed to provide due process to Bo, failed to provide justice to his victims, and failed to provide the truth about his abuses of power to the Chinese public", wrote Nicholas Bequelin of Human Rights Watch.
• Additional research by Cecily Huang• Additional research by Cecily Huang
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