Confirmed: former top Chinese general Guo Boxiong to face corruption charges

Analyst says announcement of charges against man who once ran the world’s largest army comes after military reshuffle neutralised his political influence

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A file photo of former top Chinese general Guo Boxiong, the highest-ranking military official to be netted in President Xi Jinping’s corruption crackdown. Photo: Xinhua

Jun Maiin BeijingandMinnie Chanin Hong Kong

Published: 7:00pm, 5 Apr 2016Updated: 11:03am, 6 Apr 2016

China announced on Tuesday it would press graft charges against former top general Guo Boxiong as it wrapped up a corruption investigation against him.

Military prosecutors said Guo and his family took an “extremely large amount” of bribes, Xinhua reported, without elaborating.

Guo also allegedly “took advantage of his position to aid the promotion and relocation of other people”. Guo had “confessed” to his wrongdoings, the report said.

Analysts said the timing of the announcement was significant, coming after a military overhaul and reshuffle of the top ranks by President Xi Jinping, who also chairs the powerful Central Military Commission.

The official announcement confirmed a South China Morning Post report on Monday that the investigation into Guo had been completed. A source told the Post Guo was expected to be charged with allegedly taking 80 million yuan (HK$96 million) in bribes.

Guo, 74, the retired military chief of the People’s Liberation Army, came under investigation for corruption last year and was expelled from the Communist Party in July.