Communist China’s biggest political trial in decades involving disgraced top politician Bo Xilai ended on Monday on an acrimonious note, with prosecutors demanding “severe” punishment for the defiant pro-Maoist leader who accused a key official witness of having illicit relations with his wife.
“The defendant’s crimes are extremely serious. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, and there are no extenuating circumstances suggesting lighter punishment”, prosecution told the court in Jinan in east China’s Shandong province, winding up five days of dramatic hearing against 64-year-old Bo.
“It must be dealt with severely according to the law,” the prosecutors said, sparking speculation that Bo could either get death sentence, suspended death sentence or life sentence.
Bo, a politburo member of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) and the head of the Chongqing city was sacked last year after allegations of his wife Gu Kailai’s involvement in the murder of a British businessman Neil Heywood in November 2011 surfaced early last year. He was also removed from the ruling party following allegations of bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power against him.
The Jinan Intermediate Court, which heard the case regarded as the most sensitive after the 1981 ‘Gang of Four’ trial’ involving Mao Zedong’s widow,, said its proceedings formally ended on Monday after five days and the verdict would be pronounced at a later date.
Observers say Bo’s defiant rebuttals denying all charges of bribery, embezzlement and power abuse against him may attract death penalty making him the first leader to go to gallows in recent times.