Bo Xilai appealed his guilty verdict conviction, which sentenced the former Communist Party Chinese official to a life in prison, CNN reported on Monday. Bo was convicted on corruption charges of bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power.
Upon hearing the Jinan Intermediate People's Court decision, Bo screamed, "This verdict seriously contradicts the facts and it is unfair," before being led out of the room. The 64-year-old Bo denied all charges leveled against him, and challenged the prosecution's case against him, accounts published by the court revealed.
Bo's conviction details the rise and fall of one of China's most high-profiled and some argue flamboyant politicians. Bo served as "provincial governor, minister of commerce and member of the Politburo, the powerful policy-making body of the Communist Party," CNN described.
In his best moments, Bo was credited for cracking down on organized crime while serving as a top party official.
By February 2012, his career began to unravel once his wife, Gu Kalai, had been involved in a murder mystery. She was found guilty in August for the murderi of British businessman Neil Heywood in a hotel, and given a suspended death sentence.
During the trial, Bo accused his former police chief, Wang Lijun, of being in love with Gu.
On the Chinese social media and blogging site Weibo, most of the public reaction supported the court's verdict. One blogger wrote, "Justice was served fairly... his career is rightfully finished."
Another wrote, "Equality under the law, officials are no exception."
"This is an example of our Party's determination to fight corruption," another blogger posted on the site.
