Bo Xilai verdict to be issued on Sunday

A Chinese court says the verdict in the case of former politician Bo Xilai will be issued on Sunday, September 22.

According to a statement on the court™s verified social media network Sina Weibo account, the verdict will be issued early Sunday, AFP reported.

“The Jinan Intermediate People’s Court will openly announce its verdict on Bo Xilai bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power case on September 22, 2013 at 10 am,” the court said in its statement.

Bo appeared in court last month in the eastern city of Jinan for charges of bribery, embezzlement, and abuse of power.

The former top Chinese official was accused of receiving bribes totaling 21.8 million yuan (USD3.56 million) from two Dalian-based businessmen, Xu Ming and Tang Xiaolin, last month in court.

He denied the charges brought against him.

Bo was expelled from the Communist Party of China in September 2012 over allegations of massive corruption, illicit sexual affairs, and complicity in the cover-up of a murder by his wife.

On August 20, 2012, Bo™s wife, Gu Kailai, was found guilty of murder and given a suspended death sentence.

If found guilty, Bo, who used to be the mayor of Dalian in the 1990s, could face a death penalty or a suspended death sentence that effectively means life imprisonment, or a 20-year term.

SZH/PR