Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The disgraced Chinese politician and former rising star of the Communist Party, Bo Xilai, was finally charged with corruption today in what is shaping up to be China’s trial of the century.
Mr Bo is accused of bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power, according to the state news agency, Xinhua. He is accused of taking advantage of his position to seek profits for others, and the formal charges mean that he will probably be sentenced within a month.
“Bo Xilai’s indictment again shows that everyone is equal in the eyes of the law … and nobody has special rights,” the news agency said.
Mr Bo looks fairly certain to be found guilty, albeit on relatively lenient charges. His police chief, Wang Lijun, has already been convicted and jailed over the scandal, and his wife, Gu Kailai, was given a suspended death sentence for the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood – whose death triggered the investigation into Mr Bo’s affairs which led to his downfall.
Mr Bo, once a contender for the top leadership in the world’s second-largest economy, was ousted last year as Communist Party chief in Chongqing, in China’s biggest political scandal in two decades, following the murder.
The indictment claims that Mr Bo “took advantage of his position as a civil servant to seek gains for others, as well as accepted bribes in the form of large amounts of money and property”.
News reports have revealed that Mr Bo has been accused of receiving more than 20m yuan (£2.13m) in bribes and embezzling another 5m yuan (£530,000).
It is thought that the government may try to resolve the issue before a meeting of the third plenum of the Central Committee, which is expected to take place this autumn.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments