Bo Xilai's former right-hand man will go on trial in southwest China next week, a court said, the latest stage in a scandal that has rocked the Communist party ahead of a 10-yearly power handover.
Wang Lijun's flight to the US consulate in the southwestern city of Chengdu earlier this year kicked off the scandal that brought down Bo, a high-profile Communist leader, and led to his wife Gu Kailai's conviction for murder.
Wang, who worked as police chief in Chongqing, the Chinese city Bo ran until his downfall, was detained after he fled to the consulate under cover of darkness and reportedly told US diplomats of his suspicions about Gu.
"Wang Lijun's case will be heard on September 18," a spokesman for the Chengdu Intermediate People's Court, surnamed He, on Friday told AFP of Wang's trial on bribery, defection and abuse of power charges.
China's official Xinhua news agency reported earlier this month that Wang had been charged, quoting an indictment which said he had "known beforehand" that Gu was under "serious suspicion" of murdering British businessman Neil Heywood, without taking action.
The trial comes after four of Wang's senior police officers in Chongqing were found guilty of being involved in the murder cover-up last month.
It is the latest stage in a scandal that analysts say has exposed deep divisions within the Communist Party ahead of a crucial, once-in-a-decade leadership transition due to take place later this year.