STATE media flagged up the imminent indictment yesterday of top military official Xu Caihou on bribery charge.

Mr Xu, the former deputy chairman of the Communist Party’s central military commission, has admitted that he took “especially huge amounts” of bribes directly or through family members to help others get promoted or receive other benefits.

He is the most senior military figure snared in a sweeping crackdown on corruption launched by President Xi Jinping.

Mr Xu was the top uniformed officer in the military and ranked in seniority only behind then president Hu Jintao, who was the commission chairman.

PLA Daily, the official newspaper of the People’s Liberation Army, said that prosecutors will level charges against him in a military court.

It said that Mr Xu has bladder cancer and that prosecutors will ensure that he receives medical treatment.

He has also been expelled from the Communist Party and his rank as general revoked.