BEIJING, January 28 - RAPSI. The trial of the once promising Chinese politician Bo Xilai, who has been charged with corruption and abuse of power, will be held in the second half of March, the state-run paper Huanqiu Shibao writes, citing a source close to the country's top judicial body.

It was widely reported last week that the trial of the former party secretary of Chongqing was likely to begin on January 28. But the Huanqiu Shibao source denied the rumor, saying that "the date and location for the trial will certainly be made public in advance, so there is no need to speculate on this."

The case of Bo Xilai was the biggest corruption scandal in China in 2012. The politician, whose wife was given a suspended death sentence in 2012 for the murder of UK national Neil Heywood, was accused of using his high standing, including as Minister of Commerce, for personal gain, of acting in the interests of his relatives and of taking bribes. The case has been turned over to the courts.