A Chinese court has convicted fallen politician Bo Xilai of corruption and sentenced him to life in prison, capping one of the country’s most lurid political scandals in decades.

Disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai told a court his wife stole government funds without his involvement and revealed how the couple became estranged after he had been unfaithful, offering a glimpse in his politically charged trial of the unraveling of one of China’s elite families.

Greed and betrayal in one of China’s elite families went on display today when prosecutors in the corruption trial of disgraced politician Bo Xilai released testimony from his wife on a businessman’s gifts to the family, including a French villa and plane tickets to three continents.

Ousted politician Bo Xilai recanted a confession of bribery when prosecutors alleged he used his wife and son to help collect more than €2.9m in illicit funds as he stood trial in China’s biggest political scandal in decades.