JINAN, China: Fallen Chinese politician Bo Xilai accused his former police chief, whose flight to a US consulate ignited a lurid scandal, of being a liar and a fraudster yesterday, the fourth day of a gripping corruption trial.
Before the judge abruptly adjourned for the day, Bo launched the scathing attack on Wang Lijun, whom the once high-flying politician had picked as his right-hand man in the southwestern megacity of Chongqing.
Wang turned accuser at a hearing in the eastern city of Jinan, but Bo said his testimony was “full of lies and fraud”.
It was the latest flamboyant denunication by Bo, who has dismissed his wife Gu Kailai as “insane” and compared another prosecution witness to a “mad dog”.
The Intermediate People’s Court in Jinan is posting regular but delayed transcripts of the proceedings on its account on Sina Weibo, a Twitter equivalent, in a move hailed by state media as unprecedented transparency, although no independent verification is possible.
Wang was the key figure in court on Saturday, testifying against Bo over allegations of abuse of power.
He provided explosive details about the scandal triggered by the death of British businessman Neil Heywood, saying that Bo had punched him after he told the politician his wife was responsible.
Days later, Wang fled to a US consulate to seek asylum, blowing the scandal open.
“His character is extremely bad, he created rumours... and threw dust in the public’s eyes,” Bo said yesterday. “It’s beneath legal credibility to present such a person as a key witness.
“Wang Lijun was lying during the trial and his testimony was not valid at all. His testimony was full of lies and fraud. AFP
