Beijing (CNN) -- A former senior police official, whose attempt in February to seek asylum in a U.S. Consulate triggered the most serious political crisis in China in decades, has been charged with defection and bribe-taking, the authorities announced Wednesday. Prosecutors in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu also accused Wang Lijun of abusing his power and covering up a high-profile murder case, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Chengdu Intermediate People's Court has accepted the case and a trial date will be set later, Xinhua added. Of his four alleged offenses, bribe-taking -- based on the amount involved and the seriousness of the case -- could potentially lead to the death penalty. The Xinhua report did not specify how much money Wang was accused of taking as bribes but described it as a "huge sum."
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Wang Lijun in February sought asylum in a U.S. Consulate, sparking a political crisis
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He is charged with defection, bribe-taking, abusing his power and covering up a murder
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Wang, 52, was a right-hand man of prominent politician Bo Xilai, a fallen political leader
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He "is probably the most hated" figure among Beijing leadership for going to the Americans
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After being suddenly dismissed as police chief in early February, Wang spectacularly sought refuge for one day inside the U.S. @placeholder in Chengdu, apparently fearing for his life and allegedly holding incriminating information against his boss.
Bo Xilai
As for @placeholder, the government announced in April that he was stripped of his leadership positions for "serious breach of party discipline."