A Chinese court has sentenced former senior politician Bo Xilai to life in prison after finding him guilty of bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power.
The Jinan People's Court announced the decision Sunday in what has been one of China's most closely watched political scandals in decades.
Bo can still appeal the verdict, and under Chinese law is eligible for parole in a little over a decade.
But the court stripped him of his political rights for life, effectively ending his once-promising political career. The court also ordered the seizure of Bo's assets worth more than $3 million.
The 64-year-old former Politburo member gave an unusually vigorous defense at his trial last month. He acknowledged making mistakes, but denied most of the charges.
Bo was removed as party secretary of Chongqing and ousted from the Politburo last year, after that city's former police chief fled to a U.S. consulate with evidence about the Bo family's alleged involvement in the 2011 murder of a British businessman.
Prosecutors say Briton Neil Heywood was killed as a result of a financial dispute with Bo's wife, who was convicted of the murder last year and given a suspended death sentence, essentially a life term in prison.
The Jinan People's Court announced the decision Sunday in what has been one of China's most closely watched political scandals in decades.
Bo can still appeal the verdict, and under Chinese law is eligible for parole in a little over a decade.
But the court stripped him of his political rights for life, effectively ending his once-promising political career. The court also ordered the seizure of Bo's assets worth more than $3 million.
The 64-year-old former Politburo member gave an unusually vigorous defense at his trial last month. He acknowledged making mistakes, but denied most of the charges.
Bo was removed as party secretary of Chongqing and ousted from the Politburo last year, after that city's former police chief fled to a U.S. consulate with evidence about the Bo family's alleged involvement in the 2011 murder of a British businessman.
Prosecutors say Briton Neil Heywood was killed as a result of a financial dispute with Bo's wife, who was convicted of the murder last year and given a suspended death sentence, essentially a life term in prison.