Chongqing's ex-police chief faces charges

Wang Lijun, Chongqing's former deputy mayor and police chief, has been charged with bending the law for selfish ends, defection, abuse of power and bribe-taking by the Chengdu People's Procuratorate, Xinhua learned from authorities on Wednesday.

The prosecuting body filed the charges against Wang with the Intermediate People's Court of Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan Province.

During the investigation, the prosecuting body informed Wang of his right to retain defense counsel.

The prosecuting body also interrogated him, heard the opinions of the defense counsel and examined all the case files.

According to the indictment issued by the Chengdu People's Procuratorate, although Wang, who was deputy mayor of Chongqing and chief of the municipality's Public Security Bureau, had known beforehand that Bogu Kailai was under serious suspicion of murdering Neil Heywood, he consciously neglected his duty and bent the law for personal gain so that Bogu Kailai would not be held legally responsible. Wang was indicted on the charge of bending the law for personal gain.

Prosecutors said Wang, while performing his official duties, left his post without authorization and defected to the United States consulate general in Chengdu. He was also indicted on the charge of defection.

According to prosecutors, he illegally used technical reconnaissance measures, either without the approval of authorities or by forging approval documents. He was indicted on a charge of power abuse. Wang also took advantage of his position and accepted massive bribes in a bid to secure benefits for other individuals. He was indicted on a charge of accepting bribes.

Prosecutors said the facts of Wang's case were clear; the evidence was concrete and abundant. According to the law, he should be prosecuted on charges of bending the law for selfish ends, defection, abuse of power and bribe-taking.

The Chengdu Intermediate People's Court has accepted the case and will hold a trial at a later date.