Chinese Court Hands Down Guilty Verdict In Bo Case

Fallen Chinese politician Bo Xilai, who was sentenced to life in prison on September 22. He has the right to appeal.

A court in China has handed down a guilty verdict in the corruption trial against the fallen politician Bo Xilai.

The court in Jinan on September 22 sentenced Bo to life in prison, although he has the right to appeal.

Bo was tried last month on charges of taking bribes, embezzlement and abuse of power.

The former Politburo member and party chief of the city of Chongqing denied any criminal wrongdoings during the trial, but Chinese courts are not independent and a guilty verdict was widely expected.

Bo's downfall was set in motion by his wife's murder of a British businessman, followed by a defection of his top aide to a U.S. consulate with information about the murder case just ahead of a leadership transition.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP