BEIJING //The former Communist Party high-flier Bo Xilai is likely to be jailed after the Chinese authorities announced yesterday he had been expelled from the party and would face a criminal investigation following the country's biggest political scandal in years.
The Xinhua news agency yesterday accused Bo of abuse of power, taking "huge bribes", breaching discipline and having several affairs. His expulsion means he loses his place on the party's politburo and its central committee.
As China's courts operate according to Communist Party orders, there is little doubt Bo will be convicted of any charges brought against him.
No date for the trial was announced.
For months there was speculation whether the 63-year-old former Chongqing party secretary would be subjected to only party discipline or if the country's high command would also order a criminal trial.
Bo had seemed a contender for elevation to the party's all-powerful politburo central committee during a party congress that starts on November 8.
In February, however, his former Chongqing police chief, Wang Lijun, fled to the US consulate in Chengdu and alleged that Bo's wife, Gu Kailai, had poisoned a British businessman, Neil Heywood, who died in a Chongqing hotel in November.
A month later Bo was removed as Chongqing party secretary and in April was accused of "serious discipline violations".
In August, Gu was given a suspended death sentence for killing Heywood, while this week Wang received a 15-year jail term for, among other things, initially covering up the murder.
According to Xinhua, Bo bore "major responsibility" for Wang's flight to the consulate and his wife's murder case.
"Mr Bo's behaviours have yielded serious consequences, badly undermined the reputation of the party and the country, created very negative impacts at home and abroad and significantly damaged the cause of the party and the people," Xinhua said.
"Mr Bo had affairs and maintained improper sexual relationships with a number of women."
At Wang's trial, it was revealed that Bo had struck his former police chief when confronted about Gu's involvement in Heywood's death.
Bo breached party discipline throughout his political career, according to Xinhua, his failings allegedly stretching back to his time as commerce minister, governor of Liaoning province and mayor of Dalian.
"He took advantage of his office to seek profits for others and received huge bribes personally and through his family," Xinhua said.
[ dbardsley@thenational.ae ]