Bo scandal officer awaits verdict
Bo Xilai scandal
A court in China is preparing to deliver its verdict in the case of the ex-police chief at the heart of China's biggest political scandal in years.
Wang Lijun pleaded guilty to defection, abuse of power and bribe-taking at his two-day trial in Chengdu last week.
Mr Wang's flight to a US consulate in February led to the downfall of top politician Bo Xilai. His wife was found guilty of killing a UK businessman.
The scandal comes as China prepares to select new leaders in the coming weeks.
Analysts say the criminal cases may hint at how the Chinese leadership plans to deal with Mr Bo.
Mr Bo's wife, Gu Kailai, has been given a suspended death sentence for killing the British businessman Neil Heywood.
Mr Wang is charged with helping cover up her crime.
'Personal gain'The verdict against Wang Lijun is expected at around 08:30 (00:30 GMT).
Timeline: Bo Xilai scandal
- 6 Feb: Chongqing police chief Wang Lijun flees to the US consulate in Chengdu
- 15 Mar: Bo Xilai is removed from his post in Chongqing
- 20 Mar: Rumours suggest Mr Bo could be linked to the death of British businessman Neil Heywood
- 10 Apr: Bo Xilai is suspended from party posts and his wife, Gu Kailai, is investigated over Mr Heywood's death
- 26 July: Gu Kailai and Bo family employee Zhang Xiaojun are charged with killing Mr Heywood
- 9 Aug: Gu Kailai one-day trial for murder held
- 20 Aug: Gu Kailai given suspended death sentence
- 5 Sep: Wang Lijun charged with defection, abuse of power and bribe-taking
- 17 Sep: Wang two-day trial starts
- 22 Sep: Verdict
After Mr Wang's trial ended last Tuesday, a court official read out a statement saying the defendant did not contest the charges.
This left little doubt that the verdict, when it comes, will be a guilty one, correspondents said.
The indictment against Mr Wang said he knew that Gu was a murder suspect, but "consciously neglected his duty and bent the law for personal gain", state news agency Xinhua reported.
Mr Wang's flight to the US consulate proved an embarrassment for China and threw up issues involving diplomacy and state secrets.
Most analysts expect him to be given a suspended death sentence, similar to the one handed to Gu.
At a separate trial on 10 August, four senior police officers from Chongqing admitted to charges of covering up evidence linking Gu to the murder. A court official said they had been given terms of between five and 11 years in prison, AFP reported.
Mr Bo, Mr Wang's former boss in Chongqing, had been tipped for promotion to the top leadership ranks at the party congress before his downfall.
He has not been seen in public since the scandal erupted and is said to be under investigation by the party's disciplinary officials. It is not clear if he will face any criminal charges himself.
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