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| Bo Xilai police chief 'to escape death penalty' | Bo Xilai police chief 'to escape death penalty' |
| (4 months later) | |
| The flamboyant Chinese police chief whose dash to a US consulate triggered the downfall of politician Bo Xilai appears on course to escape the death penalty, after the court trying him credited him with confessing and giving important evidence against others. | The flamboyant Chinese police chief whose dash to a US consulate triggered the downfall of politician Bo Xilai appears on course to escape the death penalty, after the court trying him credited him with confessing and giving important evidence against others. |
| Wang Lijun received 3m yuan (nearly £300,000) or more in bribes, according to a statement released by Chengdu intermediate people's court in south-west China shortly after his trial concluded on Tuesday. He is also accused of defection, "bending the law to selfish ends" and abuse of power. | Wang Lijun received 3m yuan (nearly £300,000) or more in bribes, according to a statement released by Chengdu intermediate people's court in south-west China shortly after his trial concluded on Tuesday. He is also accused of defection, "bending the law to selfish ends" and abuse of power. |
| The statement described how Wang had been privy to state secrets due to his position and had left his post in Chongqing while on duty and defected to a foreign consulate – the US mission in Chengdu. | The statement described how Wang had been privy to state secrets due to his position and had left his post in Chongqing while on duty and defected to a foreign consulate – the US mission in Chengdu. |
| There, he told diplomats that he believed Bo's wife Gu had murdered British businessman Neil Heywood. She was handed a suspended death sentence last month. "Wang knew perfectly well that Bogu [SIC] Kailai was under serious suspicion of intentional homicide, but he deliberately covered up for her so that Bogu Kailai would not be held legally responsible … The circumstances are especially serious," said the statement. | There, he told diplomats that he believed Bo's wife Gu had murdered British businessman Neil Heywood. She was handed a suspended death sentence last month. "Wang knew perfectly well that Bogu [SIC] Kailai was under serious suspicion of intentional homicide, but he deliberately covered up for her so that Bogu Kailai would not be held legally responsible … The circumstances are especially serious," said the statement. |
| The document, read out by spokesman Yang Yuquan, also said Wang had used surveillance technology "against many people on multiple occasions, either without the approval of authorities or by forging approval documents". | The document, read out by spokesman Yang Yuquan, also said Wang had used surveillance technology "against many people on multiple occasions, either without the approval of authorities or by forging approval documents". |
| But it also added that prosecutors acknowledged a string of extenuating circumstances that should result in a lighter sentence. Wang ordered his subordinates to collect and preserve evidence of the murder case, reported Gu's possible involvement to authorities, provided evidence and willingly aided the reinvestigation. | But it also added that prosecutors acknowledged a string of extenuating circumstances that should result in a lighter sentence. Wang ordered his subordinates to collect and preserve evidence of the murder case, reported Gu's possible involvement to authorities, provided evidence and willingly aided the reinvestigation. |
| He turned himself in, in other words, agreed to leave the US consulate, and confessed and performed "major meritorious services" by exposing serious offences committed by others and playing a key part in the investigation. | He turned himself in, in other words, agreed to leave the US consulate, and confessed and performed "major meritorious services" by exposing serious offences committed by others and playing a key part in the investigation. |
| While the amount of bribes Wang accepted appeared almost modest when compared with the startling sums revealed in other recent corruption cases, it might under normal circumstances be enough to warrant the death penalty because the legal threshold was low, said Joshua Rosenzweig, a Hong Kong-based expert on the Chinese criminal justice system. | While the amount of bribes Wang accepted appeared almost modest when compared with the startling sums revealed in other recent corruption cases, it might under normal circumstances be enough to warrant the death penalty because the legal threshold was low, said Joshua Rosenzweig, a Hong Kong-based expert on the Chinese criminal justice system. |
| "There are significant grounds for lenience, but we have to figure out what we mean by lenience. It's clear, I think, that he won't be put to death and quite likely, I think, that he won't be given a suspended death sentence. Could he still get a life sentence? I think there's a chance of that. Under the circumstances, that might be considered lenient," he added. | "There are significant grounds for lenience, but we have to figure out what we mean by lenience. It's clear, I think, that he won't be put to death and quite likely, I think, that he won't be given a suspended death sentence. Could he still get a life sentence? I think there's a chance of that. Under the circumstances, that might be considered lenient," he added. |
| Video released by China's state broadcaster showed the 52-year-old Wang looking calm and apparently well as he sat in the courtroom, wearing a white shirt and dark trousers, with a few dozen people behind him. | Video released by China's state broadcaster showed the 52-year-old Wang looking calm and apparently well as he sat in the courtroom, wearing a white shirt and dark trousers, with a few dozen people behind him. |
| He was seen reading documents and speaking briefly. The court statement described Wang as emotionally stable and in good health. The judgment will be delivered on an unspecified date, but there is little doubt of the verdict. | He was seen reading documents and speaking briefly. The court statement described Wang as emotionally stable and in good health. The judgment will be delivered on an unspecified date, but there is little doubt of the verdict. |
| Criminal cases almost always end in conviction in China and state news agency Xinhua described evidence against him as "concrete and abundant" when it announced his indictment. | Criminal cases almost always end in conviction in China and state news agency Xinhua described evidence against him as "concrete and abundant" when it announced his indictment. |
| The case began unexpectedly on Monday, with a hearing held behind closed doors because it touched on state secrets. | The case began unexpectedly on Monday, with a hearing held behind closed doors because it touched on state secrets. |
| Xinhua described Tuesday's hearing as an "open trial", although it took place under tight security and with only carefully selected people present. | Xinhua described Tuesday's hearing as an "open trial", although it took place under tight security and with only carefully selected people present. |
| Scores of uniformed and plainclothes officers surrounded the taped-off courthouse, with at least 10 photographing and filming journalists. Wang Yuncai – no relation of her client, and one of two defence representatives – said the former police chief's relatives had been in court. She declined to comment on whether he had made a statement. | Scores of uniformed and plainclothes officers surrounded the taped-off courthouse, with at least 10 photographing and filming journalists. Wang Yuncai – no relation of her client, and one of two defence representatives – said the former police chief's relatives had been in court. She declined to comment on whether he had made a statement. |
| The court statement said Wang did not challenge the charges but his lawyer put forward mitigating circumstances. The conclusion of the trial will take China closer to resolving the political upheaval that resulted from Wang's decision to go to US officials – particularly important given the impending transition of power to younger leaders. | The court statement said Wang did not challenge the charges but his lawyer put forward mitigating circumstances. The conclusion of the trial will take China closer to resolving the political upheaval that resulted from Wang's decision to go to US officials – particularly important given the impending transition of power to younger leaders. |
| It remains to be seen whether authorities will also try Bo, who has been under investigation by the party for unspecified disciplinary violations since April. Some analysts believe those at the top of the party are reluctant to do so because it would shed such an unflattering light on senior leaders and might stir up Bo's supporters. Others think that indicting Wang for offences related to his duties indicates they are preparing the way for a criminal trial of his boss. | It remains to be seen whether authorities will also try Bo, who has been under investigation by the party for unspecified disciplinary violations since April. Some analysts believe those at the top of the party are reluctant to do so because it would shed such an unflattering light on senior leaders and might stir up Bo's supporters. Others think that indicting Wang for offences related to his duties indicates they are preparing the way for a criminal trial of his boss. |
| Court security | Court security |
| The security operation mounted at Wang Lijun's trial appeared at least as intense as that deployed at Gu Kailai's in Hefei. Authorities will not have been concerned that the former police chief planned another sudden dash, like the flight that brought him to Chengdu in the first place. | The security operation mounted at Wang Lijun's trial appeared at least as intense as that deployed at Gu Kailai's in Hefei. Authorities will not have been concerned that the former police chief planned another sudden dash, like the flight that brought him to Chengdu in the first place. |
| The efforts were directed at keeping people away from the courthouse, not inside it. Unlike the recently built Hefei facility, the Chengdu intermediate people's court is in a busy neighbourhood and surrounded by ordinary businesses, making it harder for officials to monitor. | The efforts were directed at keeping people away from the courthouse, not inside it. Unlike the recently built Hefei facility, the Chengdu intermediate people's court is in a busy neighbourhood and surrounded by ordinary businesses, making it harder for officials to monitor. |
| Uniformed police taped off and guarded the imposing grey stone building and scores of plainclothes officers surrounded it; mostly men, with a handful of fashionably clad young women. At least 10 unidentified individuals were taking pictures and video footage of foreign journalists and other people on the street, some while apparently pretending to be on the phone or surfing the net, and others just openly using cameras. They appeared less keen to have their own photographs taken. | Uniformed police taped off and guarded the imposing grey stone building and scores of plainclothes officers surrounded it; mostly men, with a handful of fashionably clad young women. At least 10 unidentified individuals were taking pictures and video footage of foreign journalists and other people on the street, some while apparently pretending to be on the phone or surfing the net, and others just openly using cameras. They appeared less keen to have their own photographs taken. |
| While Xinhua described the hearing as an "open session" and stressed that "Wang's family and relatives, journalists, deputies to the people's congress, political advisers, as well as ordinary citizens" heard the trial, foreign media were not allowed to register for places. It appears the state broadcaster, CCTV, and official news agency, Xinhua, were the only media inside. | While Xinhua described the hearing as an "open session" and stressed that "Wang's family and relatives, journalists, deputies to the people's congress, political advisers, as well as ordinary citizens" heard the trial, foreign media were not allowed to register for places. It appears the state broadcaster, CCTV, and official news agency, Xinhua, were the only media inside. |
| Foreign journalists were allowed to film the front of the court, but not the back entrance, where most people and vehicles arrived. A subsequent press briefing on proceedings in court was short and no questions were permitted. But its very existence was unusual, demonstrating how aware Chinese authorities are of the extraordinary global impact of a story that has shaken its domestic political world. | Foreign journalists were allowed to film the front of the court, but not the back entrance, where most people and vehicles arrived. A subsequent press briefing on proceedings in court was short and no questions were permitted. But its very existence was unusual, demonstrating how aware Chinese authorities are of the extraordinary global impact of a story that has shaken its domestic political world. |
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