BEIJING - Bo Xilai was a high-flying Communist Party boss in Chongqing until his career came to an abrupt end. Bo has been stripped of his position as a member of the Central Committee and the Politburo. He is also under investigation by the anti-graft watchdog, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.
Mainland news agency Xinhua said Bo's wife, Gu Kailai, has been implicated in the death of British businessman Neil Heywood, who was a friend of the Bo family and died in Chongqing last November.
A probe by mainland police found that Gu was 'strongly suspected' of killing Heywood. Also implicated is Zhang Xiaojun, one of Bo's guards.
'[Gu] and her son were on good terms with Heywood,' Xinhua reported, citing police sources. 'However, they had conflict over economic interests, which had intensified.'
The news agency said both Gu and Zhang were in custody on suspicion of 'intentional homicide'. It did not say if Bo is believed to have played a role in the case.
'Whoever has broken the law will be handled in accordance with the law,' Xinhua said.