Prosecutor urges 'severe' sentence for China's Bo

A prosecutor urged a Chinese court Monday to punish disgraced politician Bo Xilai with a severe sentence because of his lack of remorse over alleged corruption and abuse of power, in a trial that has offered a glimpse into the shady inner workings of China's elite, The Associated Press reported. 

The proceedings, aimed at cementing Bo's political downfall and wrapping up the scandal set off by his wife's murder of a British businessman, have provided what prosecutors said Monday was adequate proof of Bo's guilt.

"The defendant's crimes are extremely grave, and he also refuses to admit guilt. As such, the circumstances do not call for a lenient punishment but a severe one, in accordance with the law," the prosecutor said, according to a transcript of court proceedings.

Four days of testimony ended Sunday, with Bo assailing his former right-hand man, much as he had done previously to his wife, the other key witness to testify against him. The trial resumed Monday to hear closing arguments.

The court heard allegations over the weekend that Bo abused his power as the Communist Party secretary of the southern megacity of Chongqing to block an investigation into the Briton's murder, as well as to hide his aide's embarrassing flight to a U.S. consulate.

Bo told the Jinan Intermediate People's Court that Chongqing police chief Wang Lijun, "constantly lied in his testimony." He said Wang, his former close aide, was "a person of very vile quality, who lied in court and muddied the waters."

Bo acknowledged that he made mistakes in the handling of the incidents that triggered the scandal and brought shame on the Communist Party, but he denied criminal misconduct.