Bo indictment shows CPC's stance on corruption

Bo Xilai, then-Chongqing Party chief, attends the closing ceremony of the annual session of the country's top political advisory body in March 2012, one of his last public appearances.ZOU HONG / CHINA DAILY

BEIJING - The public prosecution against Bo Xilai shows the clear-cut stance and strong determination of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to root out corruption, according to a commentary of the People's Daily.

It has demonstrated the CPC's strictness with its members and adherence to the governing philosophy of ruling the country by law, says the commentary to be published by the mouthpiece of the CPC Central Committee on Friday.

Bo, former CPC chief of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, has been charged with taking bribes, embezzlement and abuse of power, according to an indictment delivered to the Intermediate People's Court of Jinan City in east China's Shandong Province on Thursday.

Bo took advantage of his position as a civil servant to seek gains for others, as well as accepted bribes in the form of large amounts of money and property, according to the indictment.

Bo has been informed of his legal rights and interviewed by prosecutors. His defending counsel has delivered its opinion, according to the prosecutors.

The indictment of Bo fully shows the spirit of respecting the facts and the rule of law, and manifests the dignity and authority of law, reads the commentary.

The prosecution against Bo shows that "all men are equal before the law, no exception will be made before regulations, nobody has the privilege to be placed above the law and no one should take the chance that [punishments are not for nobles]," it adds.

"People will be held accountable and severely punished if they break the law, no matter who they are, how powerful they are or how high-ranking their positions are," it says.

To retain a "high-voltage" crackdown on corruption and target both high-ranking "tigers" and low-ranking "flies" is a key to win people's trust in the CPC's fight against corruption, the commentary notes.

The CPC, representing the fundamental interests of the people, will never be soft on corruption and "restricting power by the cage of regulations" will not be empty talk, it says.

Bo, 64, formerly served as mayor of Dalian City, governor of Liaoning province and minister of commerce, before he became the Party chief of Chongqing in 2007.

The CPC Central Committee announced in April 2012 that it had decided to suspend Bo's membership in the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and the CPC Central Committee, as he was suspected of being involved in serious discipline violations. The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection also filed the case for investigation.

In September, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee decided to expel Bo from the CPC and his public office. The bureau also decided to transfer Bo's alleged violations and relevant evidence to judicial organs.

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