Zhou Yongkang yet to be prosecuted in corruption probe, senior court official reveals
PUBLISHED : Saturday, 01 November, 2014, 11:45am
UPDATED : Saturday, 01 November, 2014, 1:11pm
Staff Reporter
Former security tsar Zhou Yongkang is being investigated for corruption. Photo: Reuters
Former security tsar Zhou Yongkang has yet to be prosecuted, according to a senior court representative, marking the first official update on the progress of a corruption probe that was announced three months ago.
Speaking at a press conference this morning, Jiang Bixin, a vice-president of the Supreme People’s Court, promised a trial would be held according to legal procedures after indictment.
The Communist Party’s anti-graft watchdog announced on July 29 that it was investigating law and order chief Zhou – making him the first serving or former member of the elite Politburo Standing Committee to be probed.
Zhou had a power base that extended from the petroleum industry to Sichuan officialdom, police and the legal affairs establishment.
At least 37 companies, some as far afield as North America, are either owned by Zhou’s family or have links to it, according to corporate documents seen by the South China Morning Post. The businesses are involved in oil production, property development, hydropower and tourism.
Analysts said Zhou was not directly involved in business deals but his son Zhou Bin, 42, held the reins.
Zhou is reportedly an ally of former Chongqing party chief Bo Xilai, who was expelled from the party and sentenced to life in September last year for bribery, corruption and abuse of power.
Earlier this week the party broke its silence on Zhou's case, saying there was no decision on his fate at its annual plenum because he was no longer a state leader.
