Former Chinese security czar Zhou Yongkang charged with corruption, abuse of power, leaking state secrets

Zhou Yongkang, China's former security czar, has become the highest-ranking Chinese Communist Party official ever to face corruption charges after he was reportedly charged for accepting bribes by state prosecutors.

Supreme People's Procuratorate, the highest prosecution authority in China, said that the 72-year-old was also charged with abuse of power and leaking state secrets, reported the CNN.

As a member of the ruling Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee, Yongkang effectively ruled the nation, enjoyed control over police forces, spy agencies, court systems as well as prosecution offices across China. He also believed to have used his vast assets to crush dissent and unrest in the name of "preserving social stability." He retired in 2012.

Prosecutors have accused Yongkang of misusing his position to seek benefits for others and accepting bribe during his long political career.

They added that his actions had caused "heavy losses to public assets and greatly harmed national interests."

Yongkang will be tried in Tianjin, a city near the Chinese capital, Beijing.