Disgraced politico says he was ignorant of villa deal

BEIJING: A luxurious, bougainvillea-clad mansion in one of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in the French Riviera resort of Cannes emerged as a key exhibit in Chinese prosecutors’ corruption case against fallen political heavyweight Bo Xilai on Thursday.

Nestled on a hillside overlooking the Mediterranean, the six- bedroom villa was once managed by close associates of Bo, including British murder victim Neil Heywood, French court documents show. According to French court filings, the villa in Cannes, near Nice, is owned by a French-registered company called Residences Fontaine Saint Georges, founded in 2001.

Shide Group chairman Xu Ming testified in court that Bo’s wife, Gu Kailai, told him in 2000 that she wanted to buy a villa in France, and Xu provided $3.23m (R32.9m).

Prosecutors said they had evidence to show that Bo was present when Gu showed the businessman pictures of the villa, and the politician knew he was buying it for her. In later years, Xu repeatedly discussed with Gu nominees to own the Fontaine Saint Georges property on her behalf, the prosecution said, according to transcripts of the proceedings released by the court.

Neither Bo nor his family appear on official French records as owners of the property. Bo told the court: “I was completely unaware of the Nice property and the whole process was made up.”

The politician was one of China’s highest-flying Commu- nist Party members until his downfall last year following Heywood’s death, for which Gu was later convicted.

He faces charges of bribery totalling $3.6m, embezzlement and abuse of power.

The Cannes property stands on the winding Boulevard des Pins, in a suburb favoured by wealthy foreigners, according to property agents who specialise in very wealthy clients.

Despite its neoclassical entrance, colonnaded balconies and shaded terrace with accompanying pool, the villa itself appears modest compared to its nearest neighbours, many of which sell for upwards of € 50m (R683m).

The case has cast a spotlight on how disconnected many of China’s Communist party leaders are from ordinary citizens, squirrelling fortunes away in overseas investments and sending their children abroad to study.

Heywood was found dead in November 2011 and Gu Kailai was convicted last year of poisoning him after a business deal went sour. – Sapa-AFP