(Reuters) - China's ruling Communist Party took a big step towards sealing the fate of fallen politician Bo Xilai on Monday, when a court jailed his former police chief for 15 years over charges that indicated Bo tried to derail a murder inquiry.
The court in southwest China handed down the sentence against Wang Lijun after finding him guilty on four charges, including seeking to cover up the November 2011 murder of a British businessman, Neil Heywood, by Bo's wife, Gu Kailai.
The verdict ended the career of one of China's most controversial police officers and moved the party closer to deciding the fate of Bo, whose downfall has shaken a leadership handover due at a party congress as early as next month.
"Wang Lijun exposed clues of major law-breaking and crimes by others," said the court verdict, according to the Xinhua news agency. It did not say who those other people were.
"He rendered a major contribution, and according to the law he can receive a lighter sentence," said the court. Wang could have received life imprisonment, or even a death sentence.
Century Fox Report: Trial in China Murder leaves shadows
The relatively mild sentence, following official confirmation that Wang gave incriminating leads and that Bo beat him after Wang confronted him over the murder allegations, gave credence to predictions that the party will also move to jail Bo, said Li Weidong, a political commentator in Beijing.
"I'd guess now that even within a week the party could announce that he has been handed over to legal authorities," said Li, a former magazine editor who has closely followed the scandal around Bo. "I think he'll certainly face trial."
Experts have offered divided views over whether the party will put Bo before a criminal court or spare him and the leadership that disgrace by simply meting out lighter disciplinary punishment within the party.
Some still see that latter course as more likely.
Before Chinese authorities can launch a criminal investigation, the party leadership must first hear the results of an internal investigation and decide whether to hand Bo over.
That could happen at a leadership conclave that must take place before the bigger party congress convenes.
"If there's not a decision on that (Bo case) soon, then it could be difficult to hold the party congress by mid-to-later October," said Li, the political commentator.
THE SLAP THAT CHANGED HISTORY
The Intermediate People's Court of Chengdu in southwest China said Wang, former police chief of southwestern Chongqing municipality, received the sentence for "bending the law for selfish ends, defection, abuse of power and bribe-taking", according to state-run Xinhua.
"Wang Lijun stated to the court that he will not appeal," it said. Wang's lawyer, Wang Yuncai, was not immediately available for comment.
The scandal that felled both men erupted after Gu murdered Heywood in Chongqing, where Bo was the flamboyant party chief.
As well as the conviction for sabotaging an investigation into the murder, Wang was found guilty of defecting to a U.S. consulate, taking bribes and conducting illegal surveillance.
Officials have said the murder arose from a business dispute in Chongqing, which Bo and Wang ran as their fiefdom.
After first helping Gu evade suspicion of poisoning Heywood, Wang then hushed up evidence of the murder, according to the official account of Wang's trial. In late January, Wang confronted Bo with the allegation that Gu was suspected of killing Heywood. But Wang was "angrily rebuked and had his ears boxed".
Days later, Bo stripped Wang of his post as Chongqing police chief. The court verdict said that several of Wang's subordinates were "illegally investigated".
Wang, fearing for his safety, fled to the U.S. consulate in Chengdu where he hid for more than 24 hours until Chinese officials coaxed him out.
In August, Gu was sentenced to a suspended death sentence, which effectively means life in prison.
Wang sealed his fate at a trial a week ago by admitting the charges, Xinhua said. Only official media outlets were allowed inside the courtroom.
"As for the crimes that the prosecution has alleged, I understand them, I admit them and I am repentant for them," Wang told the court in Chengdu, about 300 km (190 miles) from Chongqing, according to that earlier account.
In March, Bo was sacked as Chongqing party boss, and in April he was suspended from the party's Politburo, a powerful decision-making council with two dozen active members. So far, Bo has been accused only of breaching internal party discipline, and his defenders have accused foes of exploiting the charges against Gu to topple Bo.
"The prosecutors said Wang exposed leaders to major crimes by others," said Li Zhuang, a Beijing lawyer who opposed Wang and Bo for mounting a sweeping crackdown on foes in the name of fighting organized crime. Bo was the likely target of Wang's allegations, said Li.
"That was a slap around the ears that changed history," Li said of Bo's action against Wang. "Otherwise, Bo might still be in power and hoping to rise higher.
Edited By Cen Fox Post Team
