A Chinese court on Monday sentenced Wang Lijun to 15 years in prison
and deprived him of his political rights for one year after finding him
guilty of bending the law for selfish ends, defection, abuse of power
and bribe-taking.
Wang, the former vice mayor and police chief of southwest China's
Chongqing municipality, was charged with several crimes and received a
combined punishment for all offenses, according to a verdict announced
by the Chengdu City Intermediate People's Court in southwest China's
Sichuan Province.
Wang received seven years in prison for the charge of bending the law
for selfish ends, two years in prison and deprivation of his political
rights for one year for the charge of defection, two years in prison for
the power abuse charge and nine years in prison for the charge of
bribe-taking. He received a combined punishment of 15 years in prison
and deprivation of his political rights for one year.
Wang stated to the court that he would not appeal the sentence.
The court found that on November 15, 2011, British national Neil Heywood was killed in his hotel room in Chongqing.
Despite knowing that Bogu Kailai was a major suspect in Heywood's
murder and having obtained important related evidence, Wang, then chief
of Chongqing's Public Security Bureau, bent the law by selecting Guo
Weiguo, then deputy chief of the bureau and a close friend of both Wang
and Bogu Kailai, to take charge of the case.
Wang concealed from police the fact that Bogu Kailai had recounted
her poisoning of Heywood to him, as well as he hid a recording of her
recount.
Wang accepted Guo's verdict that Heywood had died from drinking too
much, although facts ran contrary to Guo's claim. Wang also offered Bogu
Kailai a video recording that showed her at the crime scene on the
night of Heywood's death in an attempt to prevent her from being
prosecuted.
After Wang had conflicts with Bogu Kailai and as the conflicts began
to escalate, Wang told personnel at the Chongqing Public Security Bureau
to re-collect, sort through and carefully keep the evidence from
Heywood's case. Wang also provided them with the recording in Bogu
Kailai admitted poisoning Heywood.
On February 7, 2012, Wang reported to relevant state organs that Bogu
Kailai was suspected of intentionally killing Heywood and offered
relevant evidence and materials. Police re-investigated and cracked the
case in accordance with law.
In early February 2012, Wang's positions and duties were adjusted and his close aids were illegally interrogated.
Feeling that he was in danger, Wang entered the US Consulate General
in Chengdu without permission at 2:31 p.m. on February 6 and asked the
US side for political asylum.
Wang left the US diplomatic mission of his own volition at 11:35 p.m. on February 7 after being persuaded by the Chinese side.
From January 2010 to February 2012, when he served as director of the
Chongqing Public Security Bureau, Wang instructed the bureau's staff to
use technical investigation measures against many people without
obtaining legal approval from authorities, an act that severely
undermined the socialist rule of law and infringed on citizens'
legitimate rights and interests.
From September 2008 to November 2009, Wang, as the executive deputy
chief and then chief of Chongqing Municipality Public Security Bureau,
accepted requests from Xu Ming, board chairman of the Dalian Shide Group
Co., Ltd. and Yu Junshi, legal representative of Dalian Shiyuan Trade
Co., Ltd. and instructed law enforcement departments to illegally
release four suspects who were being detained.
During that period, Wang received two apartments in Beijing worth
2.85 million yuan (449,583 US dollars) bought by Xu and received a total
of 200,000 yuan from Yu to cover the rent for Wang's villa in
Chongqing. Most of the property and money involved in the bribery has
been reclaimed.
After being arrested, Wang produced important clues that exposed
serious offenses committed by others. These clues played a key role in
the investigation of other cases.
The court held that Wang Lijun, as then-chief of Chongqing's Public
Security Bureau, knew perfectly well that someone was under serious
suspicion of intentional homicide, bent the law for selfish ends and
deliberately covered up the case so that the relevant person would not
be held legally responsible. His behavior constituted the crime of
bending the law for selfish ends and the circumstances were especially
serious.
Wang, acting as a state functionary, left his post without permission
and defected to a foreign country's consulate while performing his
official duties. His behavior constituted the crime of defection and the
circumstances were serious.
Wang abused power and illegally used technical investigation measures
against many people. These acts severely infringed upon citizens'
legitimate rights and interests and undermined the socialist rule of
law. His acts constituted the crime of power abuse.
Wang, acting as a state functionary, took advantage of his position
to seek interests for others and illegally receive property and money
from others. His acts constituted the crime of bribe-taking. He sought
illegitimate interests for others after taking bribes. The circumstances
were vile.
Wang later ordered his subordinates in the Chongqing police to refile
the case of the intentional homicide involving Bogu Kailai, as well as
re-collect, sort through and preserve evidence for the case. He also
reported to authorities the possible involvement of Bogu Kailai in the
murder, provided evidence and willingly assisted in the reinvestigation
of the case, as well as played a key part in cracking the case.
Considering this, the penalty for the crime of bending the law for
selfish ends should be lighter.
Wang Lijun, as a state functionary who knew state secrets and
defected to another country, should receive a heavy penalty according to
the law.
After committing the crime of defection, Wang turned himself in and
confessed to the crimes he had committed, which could be considered to
be voluntary surrender and merit a lighter penalty according to law.
He also produced important clues for exposing serious offenses
committed by others and played a key part in the investigation of those
cases. This could be considered as a major meritorious service, which
merits a lighter penalty.
Taking into consideration the crimes Wang committed, their social
impact and the fact that Wang pled guilty and confessed to the crimes at
trial, the court has handed down the verdict above according to law.
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