Lawyer Gu Yushu says not allowed to represent Bo Xilai

A lawyer appointed to represent disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai in his corruption case said on Thursday he has been denied permission to act on his behalf, a move likely to reinforce belief that Bo’s conviction is a foregone conclusion.

Gu Yushu, a lawyer appointed by Bo’s sister, Bo Jieying, said he would not be allowed to represent Bo during his trial, which is likely to open this month, as authorities attempt to close the door on China’s biggest political scandal in decades.

“We did not receive approval, so it’s over with the client,” Gu said by telephone.

When asked for the reason why, he said: “It’s not convenient to talk about this.”

Prosecutors charged Bo with bribery, abuse of power and corruption in late July, capping the country’s biggest political scandal since the 1976 downfall of the Gang of Four at the end of the Cultural Revolution.

His wife, Gu Kailai, and his former police chief, Wang Lijun, have both been convicted and jailed over the scandal, which stems from the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood in the southwestern city of Chongqing, where Bo was Communist Party chief until his sacking early last year.

Bo will be represented by two lawyers, Li Guifang and Wang Zhaofeng. Li had said that he was appointed by Bo. But the state-owned Global Times newspaper later reported that Li had been “assigned” by the government-run Beijing Legal Aid Centre. Li could not be reached for comment.