DHAKA: A Chinese court has rejected the appeal of former politician Bo Xilai and upheld his life sentence for bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power.

The former Chongqing Communist Party leader was convicted of the charges in September.

He was removed from office in 2012 amid a scandal which saw his wife convicted of a British businessman`s murder.

The high court in Shandong, the province where Bo’s trial was held, accepted his appeal earlier this month.

‘The facts of the first instance verdict are clear, the evidence is reliable, sufficient and the sentence is appropriate,’ the high court said in its ruling, which was posted on its website.

‘The court rules as follows: reject the appeal, uphold the original verdict. This verdict is the final ruling.’

The hearing appeared to have been brief, with the verdict coming about an hour after a convoy believed to be carrying Bo was seen arriving at the court.

Footage from state broadcaster CCTV showed Bo’s elder son, Li Wangzhi, in court with other relatives, reports the BBC.

BDST: 1555 HRS, OCT 25, 2013
RoR/JCK