Son defends fallen Chinese politician Bo Xilai

The Western-educated son of disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai has defended his father's reputation and expressed doubts about the charges that saw him expelled from the ruling party on Friday.

Bo Guagua, the son of Bo Xilai and his wife Gu Kailai, on Sunday described his father as an "upright" man who is "devoted to duty."

"Personally, it is hard for me to believe the allegations that were announced against my father, because they contradict everything I have come to know about him throughout my life," he said in an online statement, posted on the micro-blogging site Tumblr.

'Personally, it is hard for me to believe the allegations that were announced against my father, because they contradict everything I have come to know about him throughout my life.' Bo Guagua, Son of Chinese politician Bo Xilai

"Although the policies my father enacted are open to debate, the father I know is upright in his beliefs and devoted to duty," he added. "He has always taught me to be my own person and to have concern for causes greater than ourselves. I have tried to follow his advice. At this point, I expect the legal process to follow its normal course, and I will await the result."

Bo's sonconfirmed the statement came from him in an email to the Wall St. Journal. He is believed to be somewhere in the U.S., according to the Journal. He graduated with a master's degree from Harvard University earlier this year, following studies at Oxford in the U.K.

Bo was ousted from the upper-most ranks of China's ruling Communist party on Fridayamid charges of corruption and other criminal activity.

He was previously in line to take the leadership of both the party and the country following the exit of Hu Jintao, but has instead been sent to criminal court to face charges he took bribes, abused his power and had improper relations with a number of women.

The scandal began earlier this year when Gu was charged and convicted of murdering a British businessman. She confessed and was given a suspended death sentence.