China ex-security tsar Zhou Yongkang’s trial delayed amid speculation he withdrew confession
Speculation spreads that Zhou Yongkang has withdrawn confession and may defend himself as sources confirm his sons have been detained
The trial date for China's former security tsar Zhou Yongkang has been postponed amid a push by the authorities to build a stronger case against him.
Sources confirmed the trial was originally set for late April, but that this had now been pushed back.
The reason for the delay is not known, but there is speculation Zhou may have retracted his confession.
The long-awaited official announcement that Zhou would face trial came at the beginning of last month.
He will be tried by a court in Tianjin, about 120km from Beijing, on charges of taking bribes, abuse of power and intentionally leaking state secrets. The maximum punishment for bribery is death; the state-secret and abuse of power charges each carry up to seven years in jail.
Zhou, who was detained in mid-2013, is undergoing so-called "shuanggui", an internal disciplinary procedure for Communist Party members, particularly those suspected of graft.