Police chief tried as political scandal drags on

The trial for an ex-police chief at the centre of China’s worst political scandal in decades opened with an unexpected closed-door hearing yesterday, a day earlier than publicly announced.

Authorities justified the closed proceedings by saying state secrets were being discussed in the trial of Wang Lijun, who is charged with defection, abuse of power and other crimes.

“It was closed according to Chinese law because it involves state secrets,” said defence lawyer Wang Yuncai.

Today, the court is scheduled to hold the previously announced public portion of the trial — though foreign media won’t be allowed in — and the hearing is expected to go over allegations of bribe-taking and other charges.

The trial was the latest wrinkle in the bizarre months-long scandal that started when Wang fled to the US Consulate in February and divulged the murder of a British businessman.

It resulted in the removal of his boss, senior politician Bo Xilai, from the communist leadership and disturbed the Communist Party leadership as it prepares a delicate transfer of power to younger leaders.

During his 33-hour stay at the consulate, Wang claimed that Bo’s wife was involved in the murder.

Apparently unable to get asylum in the US, Wang turned himself over to a senior state security official from Beijing. Months later Bo’s wife was convicted of the murder, after she confessed in court.

Yesterday’s hearing involved two of the charges against Wang and appeared to centre on events in the consulate and the potential cover-up. The Intermediate Court in the central city of Chengdu heard the charges of defection and abuse of power and touched on state secrets, Wang Lijun’s lawyer revealed.

Putting Wang on trial is a next step for China’s leadership in moving past the scandal and dealing with the stickiest issue: whether to expel Bo from the party and prosecute him.

Proof that the scandal’s fallout continues to dog Chinese leaders is that they have yet to announce a date for a party congress to install the new leadership, though it is expected in mid-to-late October.

Worries about Wang’s renegade behaviour likely prompted Chinese leaders to order the closed hearing.