Disgraced former Beijing party boss Chen Xitong calls his corruption conviction 16 years ago 'the biggest injustice since the Cultural Revolution'.
Continuing a fight to clear his name, the ailing Chen - who was once one of China's most powerful men but is now in the late stages of colon cancer - hints for the first time in soon-to-be-published interviews that he was a victim of a purge by then-president Jiang Zemin.
The former Beijing party secretary and Politburo member dismissed as 'pure fabrication' rumours he had been plotting to undermine the president, which many China watchers have long believed precipitated the bribery charges against him.
Chen, 81, said he was airing his grievances in scholar Yao Jianfu's upcoming book Conversations With Chen Xitong because authorities had ignored requests to review his conviction.
'I always hope that one day they will right the wrong, but they've proved to be very stubborn,' Chen said. 'I have no choice but to speak out. This is to defend truth and it is in line with our party's principle. If the People's Supreme Court cannot reverse my case, their claim of judicial independence is a lie.'
Chen was convicted of accepting 550,000 yuan in bribes and using public money to build what authorities described as luxury villas. He was sentenced to 16 years and sent to the secretive Qincheng Prison in Beijing, where he stayed until his release on medical parole in 2006.