China's former security chief Zhou Yongkang jailed for life at secret trial

Former Chinese security chief Zhou Yongkang, the highest ranking ex-official to be investigated for corruption in decades, was sentenced on June 11 to life in prison at a secret trial, state-media said.

Zhou admitted to charges of ?bribery, abuse of power and leaking state secrets,? at a secret trial in the northern city of Tianjin, the official Xinhua news agency said in a surprise announcement.

Zhou, 72, is a former member of the ruling Communist party?s all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee, and wielded vast power as head of the police and courts until his retirement in 2012.

Zhou ?admitted guilt and expressed regret,? Xinhua said, adding he would not appeal and that the court ruled to confiscate his personal property.

The court was cited by Xinhua as saying that Zhou and a number of associates received more than 2.1 billion yuan ($338 million) in profits from various illegal business activities.

Zhou himself was convicted of taking bribes of about 130 million yuan, Xinhua said.

China?s President Xi Jinping has vowed to bring down high-ranking officials in a campaign against endemic corruption, with a number of former senior officials placed under investigation since he came to power in 2012.

But critics say that lack of systemic reforms mean the drive is little more than an excuse for political infighting.

After months of rumors, the party announced in July that Zhou was being investigated, before he was expelled and arrested last December.

China?s courts are tightly controlled by the Communist Party and have a near-perfect conviction rate, meaning Zhou was virtually certain to be found guilty.

Xinhua added that the trial was ?not open,? because some of the facts of Zhou...