Chinese state media say former security chief Zhou Yongkang has been sentenced to life in prison after a secret trial. The Xinhua news agency reported Thursday that a court in Tianjin found him guilty of corruption, abuse of power and disclosing government secrets.
Mr. Zhou has not been seen in public since October 2013. He was not charged with a crime until April of this year. Xinhua said the trial took place on May 22 and that the former official admitted guilt. It also said that he does not plan to appeal the ruling. There was no public access to the trial and the ruling took many by surprise.
