Chinese ex-police chief sentenced to 15 years' jail

BEIJING - Ex-Chongqing police chief Wang Lijun has been sentenced to 15 years in jail by a Chengdu court on Monday morning, paving the way for China to begin the tricky issue of dealing with his former boss Bo Xilai.

Wang, 52, was convicted on charges including defection, bribe-taking, and abuse of power to cover up a murder of a Briton committed last November by the purged politician's wife.

A conviction for Wang was a foregone conclusion as acquittals are rare in Chinese courts. But he was also predicted to escape the death penalty for pleading guilty and offering information on others such as Mr Bo.

A Xinhua news agency report about Wang's trial implicated the former Chongqing party boss for the first time in the murder case, raising suggestions that he might face criminal charges such as covering up his wife Gu Kailai's crime.