Bo Xilai expelled from national legislature

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, announced Friday the termination of Bo Xilai's post as an NPC deputy.

The Standing Committee of Chongqing Municipal People's Congress removed the former high-ranking official, who was suspected of violating laws, from his post as the NPC deputy late last month.

"According to the law on deputies to the NPC and to local people's congresses, his post was terminated," said a statement of the NPC Standing Committee which wrapped up a bimonthly session Friday.

The Political Bureau of the the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee decided at a meeting on Sept. 28 to deprive Bo of the CPC membership and expel him from public service for severe disciplinary violations.

Bo was formerly secretary of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee and also a Political Bureau member, after serving Dalian mayor, Liaoning governor and minister of Commerce.

The Sept. 28 meeting also decided to transfer Bo's suspected law violations and relevant evidence to judicial departments.

Investigations have found that Bo seriously violated CPC disciplines while managing Dalian City, Liaoning Province, and the Ministry of Commerce, as well as serving the Political Bureau member and the Chongqing Party chief.

Investigations also showed Bo had abused his power, made severe mistakes and borne major responsibility in an incident that former Chongqing Vice Mayor Wang Lijun entered, without permission, the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu, and an intentional homicide case involving Bogu Kailai, Bo's wife.

A Chinese court on Aug. 20 sentenced Bogu Kailai to death with a two-year reprieve for murdering British citizen Neil Heywood.

Bo was accused of taking advantage of his position to seek profits for others and received huge bribes personally or through his family.

His position was utilized by his wife to seek profits for others, and the Bo family accepted a huge amount of money and property from others.

He was also found to have violated organizational and personnel disciplines and made erroneous decisions in certain promotion cases, resulting in serious consequences.