Disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai admitted during his corruption trial Saturday that he had made mistakes in the handling of an investigation into the murder of a British businessman for which his wife has been convicted, but denied charges of abuse of power.
Bo, a rising star in the ruling Chinese Communist Party until his political career was stopped short last year by his wife Gu Kailai's scandal, also said that he bore some responsibility for public funds he is accused of embezzling.
The previously defiant Bo, who has been sacked as Communist Party chief of the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing, made the rare admissions on the third day of his trial in the Intermediate People's Court in eastern Jinan city.
He is being tried on charges of corruption, taking bribes and abuse of power by using his position to cover up for his wife Gu Kailai, who has been convicted of murdering businessman Neil Heywood in 2011.
The court hearing that had gripped millions was earlier expected to last only two days but now will continue into a fourth day Sunday, the official Xinhua news agency reported Saturday, although analysts have said that Bo is almost certain to be found guilty and handed a lengthy jail term, possibly in the guise of a suspended death sentence.
Bo's ex-police chief Wang Lijun, his right hand man in the Chongqing megacity, appeared in court Saturday to testify against the fallen political star, Xinhua said, adding that Wang "proved all the facts about Bo's alleged abuse of power."
Wang, sentenced to 15 years in prison last year for a range of crimes including abuse of power relating to Heywood's murder, was cross-examined by prosecutors, Bo, and his lawyers for about 1 hour and 40 minutes, Xinhua said.
Slapping
At the trial, Bo admitted to slapping Wang and sacking him as police chief after he told him Gu was responsible for Heywood's murder.
Wang then fled to a U.S. consulate to seek asylum, blowing the scandal wide open.
"I failed to handle this incident at a critical point in a calm way and I made a serious misjudgement," Bo said, according to Agence France-Presse quoting transcripts provided by the court on its account on Sina Weibo, a Twitter equivalent.
"I never meant to ... protect Gu. I didn't mean to force Wang Lijun away."
Bo said he felt "ashamed" by Wang's flight to the U.S. mission, which had reflected badly on the image of the party and country.
"So I bear some responsibility for Wang Lijun's flight and I feel very sorry for this," Reuters reported, also citing court transcripts which are regular but delayed.
There is no live audio or video of the hearing, nor were any foreign media or independent observers allowed in the court room.
"I have made mistakes and errors, I feel very sorry and I'm willing to take appropriate responsibility, but whether there was a crime or not is another matter," Bo said.
Did not believe
Bo said he did not believe it when Wang first told him Gu was a suspect in Heywood's murder, saying Gu had shown Bo a Chongqing police report that said Heywood died of a heart attack bought on by drinking, which Heywood's wife had signed.
"In my mind, Gu Kailai is a weak and frail woman, she could not kill someone. And she had a good relationship with Wang Lijun," Bo said.
In his own testimony, Wang said the violent confrontation with Bo, as well as the disappearance of his subordinates who were investigating the murder, spurred him to flee to American officials for safety, the Associated Press reported.
He also said Bo did not slap him as much as punch him hard, causing his mouth to bleed.
"It was dangerous at the time," Wang told the court. "I was subject to violence, and my staff working closely with me and those working on the case disappeared."
Wang said he believed Bo had ordered an investigation into the police officers involved in the murder case to try to shield his wife, Gu Kailai.
'Ashamed'
Bo rejected charges of embezzling five million yuan (U.S. $800,000) intended for a local government construction project, but said he "should take some responsibility" for the money ending up in Gu's bank account and for failing to investigate.
"I feel ashamed. I was too careless, because these are state funds," he said.
Until the admissions, Bo's performance had been defiant, denying charges of bribe-taking and embezzlement totaling 26.8 million yuan (U.S. $4.4 million), AFP reported.
Wang Zhenggang, an ex-planning official in Dalian, where Bo was the mayor in the 1990s, told the court the politician had telephoned Gu in front of him in connection with the five million yuan.
Bo said the claim did not make sense. "It is not even what the most stupid corruption offender would do."
Bo is also accused of accepting bribes from businessmen in the form of money or gifts to his family—including a villa in Nice, France, and plane tickets to three continents—in exchange for political favors.
Reported by RFA's Mandarin and Cantonese Services. Written in English by Parameswaran Ponnudurai.