Aide to former Chinese president given life sentence
A Chinese court has sentenced an aide to former president, Hu Jintao, to life in jail for corruption and abuse of power.
Official media reported Monday that Ling Jihua was jailed for life over illegally obtaining state secrets and receiving bribes.
The verdict was issued by the First Intermediate People's Court in the city of Tianjin. The trial for Ling was held in secret last month.
The court said Ling, his wife and son received bribes worth a total of 77.1 million yuan (USD 11.6 million) when the politician was in office. The court's statement said the bribes Ling took were “exceptionally enormous,” adding that he obtained state secrets under severe “criminal circumstances.”
The statement noted that the abuse by the former official had “especially vile social impact” and caused “huge losses to public property and the interests of the state and the people.”
Ling has been quoted as saying that he would not appeal, calling the verdict fair.
“The trial today is engraved on my bones and in my heart,” he said in his final statement to the court, adding that the chief judge carried out his duties “fairly and lawfully.” He noted that the court proceedings were “solemn, meticulous, rational and civilized.”
The ruling Communist party expelled Ling, who once served as Hu's chief of staff, last year. Chinese courts, which operate under the control of the ruling party, have indicted several former and current officials as part a crackdown by current President Xi Jinping on graft and corruption.
Several notable officials, including former security chief, Zhou Yongkang, have been handed down a similar life sentence.
Critics say the crackdown has been carried out without any transparency, prompting concerns that Xi is gradually eliminating his political rivals.
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