China’s former Police Chief Wang Lijun is jailed for 15 years

Investigations in China look at police and politicians; Wang Lijun and Bo Xilai’s linked to murder case...

Former Chinese Chief of Police Wang Lijun will go to jail for 15 years following his trial last week in Chongqing. Communist party leader Bo Xilai has also been removed from his political position ahead of the elections, with China’s largest scandal in decades.

As stated by Chinese TV, Wang was given nine years in jail for bribery, seven for covering up a murder and the remaining prison time for wrong acts including defection. It is understood Wang has not denied the charges against him.

Following Wang’s reported visit to a US consulate in February 2012, investigations looked at Mr. Bo’s involvement in the murder of Neil Heywood. Mr. Bo’s wife was reportedly convicted last month for killing the UK nationalist Mr. Heywood, and now Mr. Bo is accused of having known about her crime.

Mr. Bo has been removed from his position and could face a criminal court. According to some reports he has not been seen in public since the scandal came to light.

In a report by the BBC, Wang is said to have broken the law by releasing a number of suspects in exchange for property and cash which amounts to nearly £300,000 according to their source Xinhua.

Pi Yijun, from China’s Law and Political Science University, is quoted by the Telegraph explaining Wang’s case had a political side to it which should be considered.

He said: “The sentence took into account his evidence on Bo's case, and also the likely reaction of the public. The general public liked Wang and the campaigns he ran, which hit at the mafia. It was mostly intellectuals who were unhappy with him because of the illegal way he went about his job.” 

The presumed downfall of Mr. Bo comes at a critical time when China is preparing to choose new party leaders.