China's Bo Xilai expelled and is facing criminal charges

Chongqing - The ex-Communist Party leader of Chongqing, China has been expelled from the party, and is being accused of abuse of power, corruption, and improper sexual behavior.

The party also said the disgraced politician, Bo Xilai, had made "severe mistakes" in the killing of British national, Neil Heywood, CNN reports. Mr. Bo's wife, Gu Kailai, was given a suspended death sentence in the UK in August for Heywood's murder. Bo is now facing criminal charges for taking bribes and for his involvement in wife's murder of Neil Heywood, The Guardian reports. The state news agency Xinhua also states that Bo had sexual relationships with several women, CNN reports. This scandal has overshadowed the fact that beginning on November 8, a party congress will oversee a change in China's leadership, BBC News reports. The decision to expel and accuse Bo of these crimes was made by the 25-member politiburo, of which Bo himself was once a member, The Guardian reports. This decision signifies that Bo will face "the biggest political court case since the show trial of the Gang of Four." BBC's Martin Patience says Mr Bo's political career is "over," and that he will "almost certainly spend time in jail."