CPC Central Committee endorses Bo Xilai expulsion

The Seventh Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Sunday endorsed a decision made by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to expel Bo Xilai from the CPC.

The meeting reviewed and approved the investigation report on Bo's case submitted by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

The Political Bureau of the the CPC Central Committee decided at a meeting on Sept. 28 to deprive Bo of 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 as Dalian mayor, Liaoning governor and minister of commerce.

The Sept. 28 meeting also decided to transfer Bo's suspected law violations and related 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 concerning former Chongqing Vice Mayor Wang Lijun's entering, 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.

Bo had or maintained improper sexual relationships with a number of women.

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

Bo's behaviors have yielded serious consequences, badly undermined the reputation of the Party and the country, created very negative impacts at home and abroad and significantly damaged the cause of the Party and the people, according to a statement issued after the Sept. 28 meeting.

The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee decided at the meeting to expel Bo from the Party in accordance with the Party Constitution and CPC intra-party supervisory disciplinary regulations.

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, terminated Bo's post as an NPC deputy last month.