HONG KONG: The Chinese provincial police chief at the centre of the biggest political scandal to engulf the communist leadership in decades will be tried for treason, a report said on Monday.
Former Chongqing municipality police chief Wang Lijun, who fled to a US consulate in February reportedly seeking asylum, would be tried as early as next month, the South China Morning Post reported, quoting unnamed sources.
Wang had been the right-hand-man of Chongqing party boss Bo Xilai, who had been widely expected to ascend to the all-powerful Politburo later this year until he was ousted over a scandal involving alleged murder and corruption.
Bo is under investigation for "serious discipline violations" party code for corruption while his wife Gu Kailai has disappeared into custody accused of involvement in the alleged murder of a British businessman.
Wang reportedly confronted Bo with information related to the murder before fleeing to the US consulate in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, where he spoke with US officials for several hours.
Security forces surrounded the consulate and Wang was subsequently handed over to Chinese custody, but the incident triggered the rapid unravelling of Bo's fortunes and those of his high-flying family.
The Hong Kong English-language daily reported that Wang's trial would take place in Sichuan and a "special legal team" had been established to handle the case.
Wang could face the death penalty if convicted of treason but Hong Kong-based Chinese law analyst Ong Yew-kim said he would probably only get "eight to 10 years".
Sources told the paper the swift handling of the trial would indicate the authorities want to resolve the Bo matter quickly to clear the air ahead of a once-in-a-decade leadership transition later this year.
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