Chinese ex-police chief trial starts

A Chinese ex-police chief whose flight to a US consulate triggered the biggest scandal to rock the ruling Communist party in years was put on trial in a closed session Monday, his lawyer said. Wang Lijun, former right-hand man of disgraced politician Bo Xilai, faces charges including defection, abuse of power, bribery and bending the law for selfish ends. "Wang Lijun's trial started this morning," defence lawyer Wang Yuncai told AFP, although he refused to give any details about the content of the session. Media and the public were barred from the first day of the proceedings in the southwestern city of Chengdu, but the lawyer said Tuesday's session would be open. Wang fled to the US consulate in the city in February, setting in motion a political crisis which exposed deep divisions within the upper echelons of Chinese politics ahead of a generational transfer of power. The scandal led to the sacking of Bo Xilai, one of China's most high-profile political figures, and the conviction of his wife Gu Kailai for the murder of a British businessman. A spokeswoman for the Chengdu Intermediate People's Court told AFP that Wang's open trial will start Tuesday morning. The proceedings will be closely watched for clues about the fate of Bo, who has not been seen in public for months and is currently thought to be under house arrest.