Disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai, a former rising star of the Communist party, has been formally charged, state media reported Thursday.

Bo was charged with bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power, according to Jinan City People’s Procuratorate in eastern China’s Shandong Province, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

He took advantage of his position to seek profits for others and accepted an “extremely large amount” of money and property, the indictment was quoted as saying.

The deposed Communist Party leader in Chongqing municipality also embezzled public money, the document said.

Legal sources in Beijing said on Wednesday that his trial was expected to start in the coming weeks.

If convicted, he could face a prison sentence of at least 15 years.

Bo was sacked in March last year after accusations that he had accepted bribes and helped cover up the murder of a British businessman by his wife.