JINAN, China, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- A Chinese court Sunday ordered a former high-profile Communist Party leader to stand trial next week on corruption charges.
The Jinan Intermediate People's Court scheduled trial for Bo Xilai on Aug. 22 in open court, China's Xinhua news agency said.
Bo stands accused of bribery, graft and abuse of power for allegedly routinely pocketing bribes. CNN said the circumstances of the alleged payoffs remained murky; however, sources said they likely stem from Bo's years as mayor of the port city of Dalian and his relationship with business tycoon Xu Lin, who has not been seen in public for more than a year and is believed to be under arrest.
Bo, 64, lost his position in the party's politburo and his powerful job as party chief in the large city of Chongqing after his arrest.
