Former military leader Guo Boxiong confesses to taking bribes

BEIJING -- Guo Boxiong, former vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC), has confessed to taking bribes, military prosecutors said Tuesday.

Military prosecutors have finished investigating Guo's alleged graft case and started the procedure to prosecute him, said a statement from the military procuratorate.

Guo was found to have taken advantage of his position to assist in promotion and reassignment of others, accepting huge amounts in bribes both personally and through his family, the statement said.

Guo served as vice chairman of the CMC from 2002 to 2012.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) decided to investigate him on April 9 last year according to the Party's disciplinary rules. He was expelled from the CPC in July.

The military procuratorate, which launched a graft investigation in July, said prosecutors gathered a large amount of proof.

The prosecutors also questioned Guo during the probe, according to the statement.

The statement said the probe found Guo's case was clear and the evidence sufficient.

The military procuratorate informed Guo of his rights in litigation, including the right to get a lawyer and the right to defend himself.

The questioning was carried out in strict accordance with the law and all the transcripts of his questioning were read carefully and signed by Guo to ensure his rights, the statement added.

Based on the evidence gathered in the investigation, Guo's family members and others involved in his case will also be dealt with according to the law, the statement said.