Bo Xilai blames extramarital affairs for estrangement with wife

Chinese Politician Bo Xilai has revealed his extra-marital affairs had broken down his marriage with Gu Kailai and that he was unaware of her financial dealings.

Bo said that her financial troubles in raising up the son and wanting to get a lighter sentence in the Heywood's murder case was the reason that his wife fabricated evidence against him, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

He suggested she had encountered financial hardship, when she left for UK with their son Bo Guagua in anger, which led to her getting help from businessman Xu Ming.

Bo has been accused of receiving bribes, corruption and abuse of power.

Dalian government official Wang Zhenggang revealed in the court that Bo had redirected 5 million yuan of state funds, meant for a classified project, to a law firm associated with his wife.

However, Bo denied to any such charges saying that even the dumbest corrupt official would not be so careless.

Earlier, Bo had claimed that his prior confessions were made under pressure and against his will.