Bo Xilai denies corruption charges as trial begins in China

At the start of his trial (video, above), Bo denied some of the corruption charges against him, as prosecutors gave more details on the charges against him.

Bo was previously the party boss in the Chinese megacity of Chongqing, and had been tipped to join the ranks of China’s ruling elite in the central politburo standing committee of the Communist Party of China.

He then suffered a spectacular fall from grace after it emerged in 2012 that his wife, Gu Kailai, had killed British businessman Neil Heywood.

In Septebmer 2012, Bo was expelled from China’s Communist party.

Charges against Bo include abuse of power in covering up that murder, as well as bribery and embezzlement.

Read more: Who are the standing committee, the most powerful men in China?

Prosecutors gave new details of the allegations against Bo and his family, including that Bo used his wife and son as intermediaries to accept more than $3m in bribes.

Foreign journalists have not been allowed access to the trial, but the court is updating the outside world via Chinese micro-blogging website Sina Weibo.

In the posts, Bo is quoted as saying at the start of the trial: “I hope the judge will reasonably and fairly judge, and judge this according to the laws of our country.”

A court official said 19 journalists were present at the trial, which is taking place in the Jinan Intermediate People’s Court.