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Bo Xilai's appeal rejected by Chinese court Bo Xilai's appeal rejected by Chinese court
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A court in eastern China has rejected an appeal by the ousted Chinese leader Bo Xilai and upheld his life sentence for bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power.A court in eastern China has rejected an appeal by the ousted Chinese leader Bo Xilai and upheld his life sentence for bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power.
Bo, the 64-year-old former Communist party head of the south-western metropolis of Chongqing, was once known for his charisma, elaborate anti-crime campaigns, and neo-Maoist politics. He fell from grace last year after his second-in-command fled to the US consulate in a neighboring city, exposing his wife's murder of a British businessman in a Chongqing hotel. Bo, the 64-year-old former Communist party head of the south-western metropolis of Chongqing, was once known for his charisma, elaborate anti-crime campaigns and neo-Maoist politics. He fell from grace last year after his second-in-command fled to the US consulate in a neighbouring city, exposing his wife's murder of a British businessman in a Chongqing hotel.
Last month, the Jinan intermediate people's court in thecoastal Shandong province sentenced Bo to life in prison for accepting £2.1m in bribes, embezzling more than £500,000, and abusing his position by blocking an investigation into the murder. Last month, the Jinan intermediate people's court in the coastal Shandong province sentenced Bo to life in prison for accepting £2.1m in bribes, embezzling more than £500,000 and abusing his position by blocking an investigation into the murder.
After a brief session on Friday, the Shandong high people's court upheld the lower court's decision, China's state newswire Xinhua reported via its official microblog. It did not provide further details. Bo will not have another chance to appeal.After a brief session on Friday, the Shandong high people's court upheld the lower court's decision, China's state newswire Xinhua reported via its official microblog. It did not provide further details. Bo will not have another chance to appeal.
Bo mounted a feisty defense at his trial, turning what many had expected to be a brief, staid affair into a five-day drama full of cutting dialogue and lurid revelations. He denied all of the charges. He mounted a feisty defense at his trial, turning what many had expected to be a brief, staid affair into a five-day drama full of cutting dialogue and lurid revelations. He denied all of the charges.
Analysts said that while the Chinese government was keen to present the trial as evidence of the country's rule of law, authorities tightly controlled the proceedings and determined his verdict well in advance.Analysts said that while the Chinese government was keen to present the trial as evidence of the country's rule of law, authorities tightly controlled the proceedings and determined his verdict well in advance.
Bo's former second-in-command, Wang Lijun, is serving a 15-year prison sentence for a raft of charges, including defection. His wife, Gu Kailai, was found guilty of murder last year and received a suspended death sentence – effectively life in prison. Bo's former second-in-command, Wang Lijun, is serving a 15-year prison sentence after being found guilty of a series of charges, including defection. His wife, Gu Kailai, was found guilty of murder last year and received a suspended death sentence – effectively life in prison.
Bo's sentence was the harshest for a current or former member of China's politburo, the country's top decision making body, since 1981, when Mao's widow Jiang Qing received a suspended death sentence for overseeing atrocities during the Cultural Revolution. Bo's sentence was the harshest for a current or former member of China's politburo, the country's top decision-making body, since 1981, when Mao's widow Jiang Qing received a suspended death sentence for overseeing atrocities during the Cultural Revolution.
Bo Zhiyue, an expert on Chinese politics at the National University of Singapore, called the rejected appeal unsurprising. "Politically I think [Bo] is finished," he said. "But Chinese politics are not predictable. You never know – something may happen down the road."Bo Zhiyue, an expert on Chinese politics at the National University of Singapore, called the rejected appeal unsurprising. "Politically I think [Bo] is finished," he said. "But Chinese politics are not predictable. You never know – something may happen down the road."
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