Details of the trials of Wang Lijun(3)

CAUSE OF CONFLICT

Wang Lijun and Bogu Kailai had close relations, but that did not mean they had no conflicts. Evidence showed that prior to the Nov. 15, 2011 Case, or the death of Neil Heywood, conflicts had arisen between them.

On Aug. 12, 2011, Bogu Kailai's son, surnamed Bo, wanted to meet Wang Lijun. Wang was in downtown Chongqing but did not want to meet Bo, so Wang asked his driver to tell Bo that he was in Wanzhou District. Bogu Kailai's son almost had a traffic accident on his way to Wanzhou, making Bogu Kailai very angry with Wang.

After the Nov. 15, 2011 Case, Bogu Kailai, worried about the case being exposed, took a series of actions, including destroying evidence, to ensure that it would not be. Wang was not pleased that Bogu Kailai turned up the heat by allowing an increasing number of people to learn about the incident.

On Dec. 14, 2011, Bogu Kailai held a banquet and invited Li Yang, Wang Pengfei, Wang Zhi and other individuals who took part in the investigation of Neil Heywood's death and covered up her crime.

Wang Lijun said in his confession that "Guo Weiguo went to Beijing the next day, taking Wang Zhi and Wang Pengfei with him. I scolded Wang Zhi and Wang Pengfei seriously in front of Guo Weiguo. I think the words that I used to scold them have been disseminated back to Chongqing. Since Dec. 14 of last year (2011), Bogu Kailai turned hostile toward me, taking a different attitude from before when contacting me. She was not so warm as before and began to guard herself against me."

The testimonies of Guo Weiguo, Wang Pengfei and Wang Zhi have confirmed the aforementioned details.

At the end of December 2011, four staff members working closely with Wang Lijun were investigated illegally, escalating the conflict between Wang Lijun and Bogu Kailai.

Relevant testimonies from witnesses showed that on Jan. 28, Wang Lijun reported to the then leading official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Chongqing Committee that Bogu Kailai was highly suspected in the Nov. 15, 2011 Case. On the morning of Jan. 29, Wang Lijun was angrily rebuked and slapped in the face by the official.

Guo Weiguo, who was present when Wang Lijun was slapped, said in the interrogation record that "the conflict was made public after Wang Lijun was slapped."

After the conflict had intensified, Wang Lijun on the same day ordered Li Yang and other individuals to re-obtain testimonies from witnesses, properly protect key material evidence, including the blood extracted from Neil Heywood's heart, reorganize the evidence and documents regarding Bogu Kailai's suspicion in murdering Neil Heywood, and provided his secret recording materials. Then, Wang Lijun gave the file to Li Yang and other individuals for transfer and storage.

Wang Zhi said in the interrogation record that on Jan. 29, Wang Lijun asked him, Wang Pengfei and Li Yang to go to his office and rearrange the Nov. 15, 2011 Case file.

"We spent several days making the file. Wang Lijun asked me, Wang Pengfei and Li Yang to keep the file separately and store it in a safe place," Wang Zhi said.

Wang Zhi added, "I knew Wang Lijun and Bogu Kailai had turned hostile toward each other at that time, otherwise Wang Lijun would not have asked us to rearrange the file. He should have a personal purpose in starting the case."

 LEAVING WITHOUT PERMISSION

On Feb. 2, 2012, Wang Lijun's work division as Chongqing's vice mayor was adjusted and he no longer served concurrently as chief of the municipality's Public Security Bureau.

Moreover, in early February, three staff members working closely with Wang were put under illegal investigation. Wang felt he was in danger, giving rise to his idea to defect.

On Feb. 6, under the pretext of discussing business, Wang canceled his original work arrangements and entered the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu at 2:31 p.m. without permission.

Relevant organs in Chongqing confirmed that during that time, neither the Chongqing municipal Party committee nor the government needed a vice mayor to go to Chengdu to participate in any official activity. The municipality also did not need or arrange for a vice mayor, including Wang, to go to the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu to engage in foreign trade issues or diplomatic issues.

According to the indictment of the Chengdu People's Procuratorate, after briefly discussing issues concerning environmental protection, education and science and technology with diplomats inside the U.S. consulate, Wang immediately claimed that his personal security was threatened because of his investigation of criminal cases. He asked the United States to provide shelter for him and filled out an application for political asylum.

Wang left the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu of his own volition at 11:35 p.m. on Feb. 7 through the persuasion and advice of relevant organs of Chongqing Municipality and central authorities. He said he would cooperate with investigations.