A Chinese court on Monday sentenced Wang Lijun to 15 years in
prison and deprived him of his political rights for one year after
finding him guilty of bending the law for selfish ends, defection, abuse
of power and accepting bribes.
Wang, the former deputy mayor and police chief of Chongqing, was
charged with several crimes and received a combined punishment for all
offenses, according to the verdict announced by the Chengdu City
Intermediate People's Court in Sichuan province.
Wang was sentenced to seven years in prison for the charge of
bending the law for selfish ends, two years for abuse of power, nine
years for accepting bribes, and two years in prison and deprivation of
his political rights for a year for defection. He received a combined
punishment of 15 years in prison and deprivation of his political rights
for one year.
Wang told the court he would not appeal the sentence.
The court found that on Nov 15, the British national Neil Heywood was killed in his hotel room in Chongqing.
Despite knowing that Bogu Kailai was a major suspect in
Heywood's murder and having obtained important related evidence, Wang,
then chief of Chongqing Public Security Bureau, bent the law by
selecting Guo Weiguo, then deputy chief of the bureau and a close friend
of both Wang and Bogu, to take charge of the case.
Bogu is the wife of Bo Xilai, former Party chief of Chongqing.
Wang concealed from police that Bogu had recounted
her poisoning of Heywood to him, and he hid a recording of her account.
Wang accepted Guo's verdict that Heywood had died
from drinking too much alcohol, though facts ran contrary to Guo's
claim. Wang offered Bogu a video that showed her at the crime scene the
night of Heywood's death to prevent her from being prosecuted.
After, Wang was involved in conflicts with Bogu
and when these began to escalate, he told personnel at the Chongqing
Public Security Bureau to re-collect, sort and carefully keep the
evidence from Heywood's case. Wang also provided them with the recording
of Bogu admitting to poisoning Heywood.
Wang reported to State agencies on Feb 7 that
Bogu was suspected of intentionally killing Heywood and offered evidence
and materials. Police reinvestigated and cracked the case.
In early February, Wang's positions and
duties were adjusted and his close aids were illegally interrogated.
Feeling that he was in danger, Wang
entered the United States consulate general in Chengdu without
permission on Feb 6 and asked for political asylum.
He left the diplomatic mission of his
own volition at 11:35 pm on Feb 7, after being persuaded by Chinese
authorities.
From January 2010 to February 2012,
when he served as director of Chongqing Public Security Bureau, Wang
instructed the bureau's staff to use technical investigation measures
against many people without obtaining the necessary legal approval, an
act that severely undermined the socialist rule of law and infringed on
citizens' legitimate rights and interests.
From September 2008 to November
2009, Wang, as the executive deputy chief and then chief of Chongqing
Public Security Bureau, accepted requests from Xu Ming, board chairman
of Dalian Shide Group Co, and Yu Junshi, legal representative of Dalian
Shiyuan Trade Co, and instructed law enforcement departments to
illegally release four suspects who were being detained.
During that period, Wang received
two apartments in Beijing worth 2.85 million yuan ($450,000) bought by
Xu and received a total of 200,000 yuan from Yu to cover the rent for
his villa in Chongqing. Most of the property and money involved in the
bribery has been reclaimed.
After being arrested, Wang
produced important clues exposing serious offenses committed by others.
These clues played a key role in the investigation of other cases.
The court held that Wang
Lijun, as then-chief of Chong-qing Public Security Bureau, knew
perfectly well that someone was under serious suspicion of intentional
homicide, bent the law for selfish ends and deliberately covered up the
case so that the person would not be held legally responsible. His
behavior constituted the crime of bending the law for selfish ends and
the circumstances were especially serious.
Wang, acting as a State
functionary, left his post without permission and defected to a foreign
country's consulate while performing his official duties. His behavior
constituted the crime of defection and the circumstances were serious.
Wang abused power and
illegally used technical investigation measures against many people.
These acts severely infringed upon citizens' legitimate rights and
interests and undermined the socialist rule of law. His acts constituted
the crime of power abuse.
Wang took advantage of
his position to seek interests for others and illegally receive property
and money from others. His acts constituted the crime of accepting
bribes. He sought illegitimate interests for others after taking bribes.
Wang later ordered his
subordinates in the Chongqing police to refile the case of the
intentional homicide involving Bogu, as well as re-collect, sort through
and preserve evidence for the case. He also reported to authorities the
possible involvement of Bogu in the murder, provided evidence and
willingly assisted in the reinvestigation and played a key part in
cracking the case. Considering this, the penalty for the crime of
bending the law for selfish ends should be lighter.
Wang Lijun, who knew
State secrets and defected to another country, should receive a heavy
penalty according to the law.
After committing
the crime of defection, Wang turned himself in and confessed to the
crimes he had committed, which could be considered to be voluntary
surrender and merit a lighter penalty according to law.
He also produced
important clues for exposing serious offenses committed by others and
played a key part in the investigation of those cases. This could be
considered as a major meritorious service, which merits a lighter
penalty.
Taking into
consideration the crimes Wang committed, their social impact and the
fact that Wang pleaded guilty and confessed to the crimes at trial, the
court has handed down the verdict above according to law.
(China Daily 09/25/2012 page3)
.jpg)
Posts
Join The Community