JINAN, China – A Chinese court on Friday rejected fallen politician Bo Xilai’s appeal against his conviction and confirmed his life sentence.
The high court of the eastern province of Shandong “ruled to reject the appeal and upheld the original sentences,” court spokesman Hou Jianjun told reporters.
“The crimes (the first trial) defined were accurate and the sentences were appropriate,” he added.
“The ruling is final.”
Until 2012 Bo headed the south-western megacity of Chongqing and was one of the highest-ranked politicians in the ruling Communist party.
Security was heavy around the courthouse in Jinan, the capital of the eastern province of Shandong, with hundreds of police officers stationed every few metres around the building and the surrounding streets blocked off, with nearby shops closed.
Bo was last month condemned to life imprisonment on charges of bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power, after a spectacular downfall which exposed infighting within the Communist party ahead of a once in a decade transition of power.
The courts have no further obligation to reconsider his case after the appeal, lawyers said, and Bo is unlikely to appear in public again. — AFP
Đăng ký: VietNam News