The trial of former Chinese politician Bo Xilai is unlikely to start until after the Chinese Communist Party's annual political meetings in March, said Xinhua, China’s official news agency, in contrast to reports that stated it was set for today. 

Allegations that the trial was set to begin today was rather a falsely speculated rumor from Hong Kong-based and Beijing-backed newspaper Ta Kung Pao.

This fooled many news sources, both domestic and international, to prepare for what is being called the “trial of the century”. 

This is one of the biggest corruption scandals involving high-level government officials in the past 13 years. Additionally, it is one of the most disputed topics since the days of the Tianamen Square incidents. 

Bo was once considered a likely candidate for promotion to the elite Politburo Standing Committee in the CPC 18th National Congress and was also once rumored to be a candidate for presidency. 

This all came to a crash in March 2012, following the Wang Lijun incident involving Bo’s top lieutenant and police chief, who sought asylum at the American consulate in Chengdu after exposing a murder and corruption scandal involving both Bo and his wife, Gu Kailai. 

The man murdered, Neil Heywood, was a British citizen who was found dead in his Chongqing hotel room.  

Homicide by poisoning was the official cause, though this information was not released until several months later when the murder was linked to Bo and his wife. 

Heywood served as a middleman, linking Western companies to powerful Chinese politicians. It is common to get the backing of a government official for Western companies looking to expand into China. Heywood allegedly also helped move large sums of the Bos' fortune into overseas banks and investments.

Heywood was a long-time associate of the Bo family and reportedly had a close personal relationship with Bo’s wife. He even helped the Bos' son earn admission to the prestigious Harrow School in England. 

In October 2011, Heywood reportedly had a business dispute with Bo’s wife, Gu Kailai, when he demanded higher commission for his services. The dispute escalated with Heywood threatening to reveal the family’s business dealings, overseas assets, and possibly removing Bo’s son from the Harrow School. Heywood was then poisoned by the angered Gu and her assistant. 

Following Heywood’s death, Bo's police chief Wang Lijun was reportedly under investigation for his role in a corruption case in Liaoning province. He also had knowledge of Heywood’s death and confronted Bo.

Several days later, Wang was demoted to a far less prestigious position, placed under surveillance. He suspected that Bo may have been plotting an assassination against him. 

On Feb. 6, 2012, apparently fearing for his life, Wang travelled to the U.S. consulate in Chengdu bringing evidence of Bo and his family involved in the Neil Heywood murder. Wang sought but was denied asylum, and was later taken into custody by state security officials dispatched from Beijing. 

State officials began investigations into the matter and soon, Bo was removed as the party chief of Chongqing, stripped of all party positions and eventually, expelled from the Chinese Communist Party.

After a one-day trial in August, Gu Kailai, received a suspended death sentence after she confessed to poisoning Heywood. She has been placed in jail since the trial and her execution is most likely awaiting the trial of her husband. 

A month later, Wang Lijun was convicted of several crimes including trying to cover up the murder and seeking refuge at the U.S. Consulate where, according to information disclosed at his trail, he revealed to American diplomats the details of Bo Xilai and his wife’s crimes. 

Wang was sentenced to 15 years in prison, which is seen as especially lenient and most likely a reward for being so helpful with investigators building a case against Bo. 

This event has caused a great deal of shame for Bo, whose achievements and honors are now disgraced by his involvement in the murder and corruption. 

Bo Xilai was once seen as a respectable man and someone who was bringing positive change to the strict Communist Party. Bo initiated campaigns against organized crime, increased spending on welfare, continued to show growth in GDP in the areas he governed and campaigned to revive the “red culture” patriotism.  

His policies gained many followers who believed in him and made Bo a very popular man in China. 

Bo has since been held by the government, and information regarding his case has been held secret. The trial is both highly political and very sensitive. If anything, the Communist Party themselves may be making the final decision instead of the local courts.

However, we will have to wait until March to see the outcome. 

Reach Staff Reporter Joey Krassenstein here.