China court rejects Bo Xilai appeal

Former Chinese politician sentenced last month to life imprisonment for bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power

Bo Xilai (centre) stands as the decision of his second trial is announced at the Shandong Higher People’s Court in Jinan, capital of east China’s Shandong Province. The court announced the decision of the second trial for Bo Xilai’s bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power case today, rejecting his appeal and affirming the original sentence of life imprisonment, Xinhua News Agency reported. Photograph: Xinhua/Xie Huanchi/Reuters

A court in eastern China has upheld a life sentence for ousted former senior politician Bo Xilai on charges of bribery, corruption and abuse of power, rejecting his appeal, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Bo, once a rising star in China's leadership circles who had cultivated a following through his populist, quasi-Maoist policies, was jailed for life in September after a dramatic fall from grace that shook the ruling Communist Party.

Reuters

A minivan believed to be carrying ousted Chinese politician Bo Xilai leaves the Shandong Province Supreme People’s Court in Jinan, Shandong province. Photograph: Aly Song/Reuters