CHENGDU, China — China Tuesday signaled it will be lenient with a former police chief enmeshed in a political scandal roiling the country's leadership, saying he cooperated with investigators who brought down a top Chinese politician's wife for the murder of a British businessman. Tuesday's conclusion of Wang Lijun's trial brings Chinese leaders a step closer to resolving a scandal that exposed seamy infighting and buffeted a delicate transfer of power to new leaders expected to take place in coming weeks. Wang sparked the turbulent affair with a dramatic flight to the US Consulate in Chengdu in February where he divulged information about the murder, resulting in the removal of his boss, Bo Xilai, once a political high-flier vying for a top job. Wang faced charges of defection, bending the law for personal gain, bribery and abuse of power, most stemming from his consulate escapade and initial cover-up of the murder. In summarizing the two-day trial, a spokesman for the Intermediate People's Court in Chengdu city said prosecutors noted that Wang's surrender to authorities and ultimate cooperation may merit lighter punishment. The crimes he faces are generally punishable by up to 10 years in prison with a 20-year maximum for consecutive sentences, though sentencing guidelines allow for life imprisonment or the death penalty in egregious cases. In laying the ground for a lenient sentence for Wang, Chinese leaders, who control the justice system, appear to have reached agreement over the thorniest issue — how to deal with Bo, said Willy Lam of Chinese University of Hong Kong. — AP
