Retired security tsar Zhou Yongkang's son Zhou Bin faces trial, seeks lawyer

The elder son of retired senior leader Zhou Yongkang is under formal detention and the family has sought lawyers to prepare his defence, according to sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

Zhou Bin, 41, is seeking legal assistance over possible bribery and other charges, according to three people familiar with the case who declined to be named.

Zhou Bin is allegedly involved in illegal dealings in Sichuan and the oil industry.

He has been formally detained since December.

His detention is a crucial step towards launching judicial proceedings against Zhou, and possibly also his father, who would become the highest-ranking party leader in decades to be embroiled in a graft scandal.

Zhou Yongkang is the first sitting or retired Politburo standing committee member to be investigated for economic or social crimes since the end of the Cultural Revolution. He was formerly in charge of the massive domestic security apparatus.

The decision to investigate him was agreed by current and retired senior leaders in early August.