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In China, Sister of Ex-Police Official Bemoans His Conviction In China, Sister of Ex-Police Official Bemoans His Conviction
(about 5 hours later)
BEIJING — The sister of a former police chief who played a central role in a seismic political scandal criticized his sentence of 15 years in prison in an interview on Monday, saying it was unfair and symptomatic of the lack of justice in China.BEIJING — The sister of a former police chief who played a central role in a seismic political scandal criticized his sentence of 15 years in prison in an interview on Monday, saying it was unfair and symptomatic of the lack of justice in China.
The former police chief, Wang Lijun, was sentenced by the Intermediate People’s Court in the southwest provincial capital of Chengdu on four charges: defection, abuse of power, taking bribes and bending the law for one’s personal gain.The former police chief, Wang Lijun, was sentenced by the Intermediate People’s Court in the southwest provincial capital of Chengdu on four charges: defection, abuse of power, taking bribes and bending the law for one’s personal gain.
“I feel desperate,” his younger sister, Wang Fengying, said in a telephone interview. “It’s too unfair.”“I feel desperate,” his younger sister, Wang Fengying, said in a telephone interview. “It’s too unfair.”
She added: “This is an unacceptable reality that has to be accepted. That is what China is.”She added: “This is an unacceptable reality that has to be accepted. That is what China is.”
Ms. Wang also said her biggest concern now is the safety her brother and his family.Ms. Wang also said her biggest concern now is the safety her brother and his family.
She made her criticisms even though Mr. Wang’s sentence was relatively light, given the gravity of the charges. He was sentenced to two years for defection; someone found guilty of that crime in the era of Mao Zedong could have faced execution. An official account of Mr. Wang’s trial in Chengdu last week said that Mr. Wang had helped investigators, and so court officials had advocated leniency.She made her criticisms even though Mr. Wang’s sentence was relatively light, given the gravity of the charges. He was sentenced to two years for defection; someone found guilty of that crime in the era of Mao Zedong could have faced execution. An official account of Mr. Wang’s trial in Chengdu last week said that Mr. Wang had helped investigators, and so court officials had advocated leniency.
Mr. Wang’s lawyer, Wang Yuncai, who is not related to him, said in a telephone interview that the 15-year sentence was about what she expected. She said that Mr. Wang’s wife, though, was stunned. “She was utterly shocked and unwilling to accept such a result,” she said.Mr. Wang’s lawyer, Wang Yuncai, who is not related to him, said in a telephone interview that the 15-year sentence was about what she expected. She said that Mr. Wang’s wife, though, was stunned. “She was utterly shocked and unwilling to accept such a result,” she said.
The lawyer also said that she had met with Mr. Wang after the verdict, as part of a legal procedure, and that he had thanked her. “He said he wouldn’t appeal,” she added.The lawyer also said that she had met with Mr. Wang after the verdict, as part of a legal procedure, and that he had thanked her. “He said he wouldn’t appeal,” she added.
Mr. Wang, 52, was for several years the police chief of Chongqing, a western metropolis governed until March by Bo Xilai, a powerful Chinese politician and Communist Party aristocrat. On Feb. 6, after a falling out with Mr. Bo during which he was removed from his job, Mr. Wang drove to the United States Consulate in Chengdu and told diplomats there that Mr. Bo’s wife, Gu Kailai, had murdered a British businessman, Neil Heywood, by poisoning him.Mr. Wang, 52, was for several years the police chief of Chongqing, a western metropolis governed until March by Bo Xilai, a powerful Chinese politician and Communist Party aristocrat. On Feb. 6, after a falling out with Mr. Bo during which he was removed from his job, Mr. Wang drove to the United States Consulate in Chengdu and told diplomats there that Mr. Bo’s wife, Gu Kailai, had murdered a British businessman, Neil Heywood, by poisoning him.
Mr. Wang presumably told the same tale to Chinese investigators after he left the consulate, setting off one of China’s biggest political scandals in decades. Mr. Bo was removed from his Chongqing post in March and suspended from the 25-member Politburo in April.Mr. Wang presumably told the same tale to Chinese investigators after he left the consulate, setting off one of China’s biggest political scandals in decades. Mr. Bo was removed from his Chongqing post in March and suspended from the 25-member Politburo in April.
The state media said Mr. Bo was being investigated for “serious disciplinary violations.” Many Chinese and foreigners are awaiting word from the party on whether he will be tried on criminal charges. That announcement could take place before the once-a-decade leadership transition that the party has scheduled for this fall.The state media said Mr. Bo was being investigated for “serious disciplinary violations.” Many Chinese and foreigners are awaiting word from the party on whether he will be tried on criminal charges. That announcement could take place before the once-a-decade leadership transition that the party has scheduled for this fall.
Before he was toppled, Mr. Bo was considered a possible candidate for one of the seats on the Politburo Standing Committee, the group of more than a half-dozen men who make the most important policy decisions in China and rule the nation by consensus.Before he was toppled, Mr. Bo was considered a possible candidate for one of the seats on the Politburo Standing Committee, the group of more than a half-dozen men who make the most important policy decisions in China and rule the nation by consensus.
After Mr. Bo was made party chief of Chongqing in December 2007, he brought the flamboyant Mr. Wang to Chongqing from northeast China to help with what was billed at the time as a crackdown on organized crime and police corruption, but that later was revealed to also be a purge of the enemies of Mr. Bo and his allies.After Mr. Bo was made party chief of Chongqing in December 2007, he brought the flamboyant Mr. Wang to Chongqing from northeast China to help with what was billed at the time as a crackdown on organized crime and police corruption, but that later was revealed to also be a purge of the enemies of Mr. Bo and his allies.
Ms. Gu, Mr. Bo’s wife, was convicted last month of Mr. Heywood’s murder and given a death sentence with a two-year suspension, which means she will likely serve a long prison term, possibly life, and not be executed.Ms. Gu, Mr. Bo’s wife, was convicted last month of Mr. Heywood’s murder and given a death sentence with a two-year suspension, which means she will likely serve a long prison term, possibly life, and not be executed.
It was unclear on Monday whether Mr. Wang had a chance of having his sentence commuted in the future.It was unclear on Monday whether Mr. Wang had a chance of having his sentence commuted in the future.
“There is nothing we can do,” said Ms. Wang, his younger sister. “You can’t change this. Such is the country.”“There is nothing we can do,” said Ms. Wang, his younger sister. “You can’t change this. Such is the country.”
Patrick Zuo contributed research.