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| Bo Xilai police chief's trial begins with secret hearing | Bo Xilai police chief's trial begins with secret hearing |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The trial of the colourful police chief who sparked the ousting of the Chinese politician Bo Xilai has begun unexpectedly with a secret hearing, his lawyer said. | The trial of the colourful police chief who sparked the ousting of the Chinese politician Bo Xilai has begun unexpectedly with a secret hearing, his lawyer said. |
| Officials had said Wang Lijun would stand trial on Tuesday for defection, abuse of power and other offences in Chengdu, south-west China. The attempt to conceal the start of the hearing, which took place under heavy security, underlines the case's sensitivity for the Communist party as the handover of power to a younger generation of leaders fast approaches. | Officials had said Wang Lijun would stand trial on Tuesday for defection, abuse of power and other offences in Chengdu, south-west China. The attempt to conceal the start of the hearing, which took place under heavy security, underlines the case's sensitivity for the Communist party as the handover of power to a younger generation of leaders fast approaches. |
| Wang Yuncai, who is not related to her client, said the first day of the former police boss's trial at Chengdu intermediate people's court was closed because it concerned defection and abuse of power charges and touched on state secrets. The second would be open because it concerned less sensitive charges such as taking bribes. | Wang Yuncai, who is not related to her client, said the first day of the former police boss's trial at Chengdu intermediate people's court was closed because it concerned defection and abuse of power charges and touched on state secrets. The second would be open because it concerned less sensitive charges such as taking bribes. |
| In practice, only a carefully selected audience – excluding foreigners – will be allowed in. Tuesday's session is expected to conclude the hearing. | In practice, only a carefully selected audience – excluding foreigners – will be allowed in. Tuesday's session is expected to conclude the hearing. |
| There is little doubt that Wang will be found guilty; the state news agency Xinhua has described the evidence against him as "concrete and abundant". The question is how harshly he will be punished for his crimes. | There is little doubt that Wang will be found guilty; the state news agency Xinhua has described the evidence against him as "concrete and abundant". The question is how harshly he will be punished for his crimes. |
| According to the state media report of his indictment, Wang helped to cover up the poisoning of the British businessman Neil Heywood by Bo's wife, Gu Kailai. Gu was convicted of the murder last month and given a suspended death sentence. | According to the state media report of his indictment, Wang helped to cover up the poisoning of the British businessman Neil Heywood by Bo's wife, Gu Kailai. Gu was convicted of the murder last month and given a suspended death sentence. |
| Steve Tsang, an expert on Chinese politics at Nottingham University, said the trial would be significant because Wang was a relatively senior figure and because of the apparent defection attempt. "It is a sensitive case because it is all about Bo Xilai," he said. | Steve Tsang, an expert on Chinese politics at Nottingham University, said the trial would be significant because Wang was a relatively senior figure and because of the apparent defection attempt. "It is a sensitive case because it is all about Bo Xilai," he said. |
| It was "poetic injustice" that Wang – who trampled over the rights of suspects in an anti-gang campaign that made him famous – faced the flawed system to which he had subjected others, Tsang said. "It is not just for anybody to have what is clearly not the administration of justice." | It was "poetic injustice" that Wang – who trampled over the rights of suspects in an anti-gang campaign that made him famous – faced the flawed system to which he had subjected others, Tsang said. "It is not just for anybody to have what is clearly not the administration of justice." |
| Some analysts believe that by indicting Wang for abuses while in power, as well as for defection, leaders are paving the way to charge his former boss. Officials have not commented on Bo since announcing in the spring that he was under investigation by the party for unspecified disciplinary offences. | Some analysts believe that by indicting Wang for abuses while in power, as well as for defection, leaders are paving the way to charge his former boss. Officials have not commented on Bo since announcing in the spring that he was under investigation by the party for unspecified disciplinary offences. |
| Others think they will shy away from trying Chongqing's former party secretary because of his popularity and because it would raise too many embarrassing questions about senior leaders in general. | Others think they will shy away from trying Chongqing's former party secretary because of his popularity and because it would raise too many embarrassing questions about senior leaders in general. |
| Wang was the city's vice-mayor and a key ally of Bo, but fled to the US consulate in Chengdu in February after the two men fell out and Bo removed him from police duties. Chongqing officials attempted to explain away his absence by claiming he was receiving "vacation-style therapy" for stress, but his dash to the mission was confirmed by central authorities, who collected him and escorted him to Beijing. | Wang was the city's vice-mayor and a key ally of Bo, but fled to the US consulate in Chengdu in February after the two men fell out and Bo removed him from police duties. Chongqing officials attempted to explain away his absence by claiming he was receiving "vacation-style therapy" for stress, but his dash to the mission was confirmed by central authorities, who collected him and escorted him to Beijing. |
| US diplomats told their British counterparts that he had claimed Gu murdered Heywood, prompting the UK to request a reinvestigation of the death, which had previously been ascribed to excessive alcohol consumption. Two months later, Chinese officials announced they had detained Gu. | US diplomats told their British counterparts that he had claimed Gu murdered Heywood, prompting the UK to request a reinvestigation of the death, which had previously been ascribed to excessive alcohol consumption. Two months later, Chinese officials announced they had detained Gu. |
| The Wall Street Journal reported that American officials had passed British diplomats details of how to covertly contact an associate of Wang via a mobile phone and obtain evidence of the claims by setting up an email account with a specific address to receive documents. One source told the newspaper that British diplomats texted and called the number, but never received a response; another said the British received two text messages outlining Wang's allegations but adding no evidence. | The Wall Street Journal reported that American officials had passed British diplomats details of how to covertly contact an associate of Wang via a mobile phone and obtain evidence of the claims by setting up an email account with a specific address to receive documents. One source told the newspaper that British diplomats texted and called the number, but never received a response; another said the British received two text messages outlining Wang's allegations but adding no evidence. |
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