SHIJIAZHUANG, March 26 (Xinhua) -- A court in north
China's Hebei Province on Thursday dismissed appeals by a brother and sister
involved in the Sanlu milk scandal, upholding a death sentence for one and an
eight-year jail term for the other.
In the appeal trial Thursday
morning, the Hebei High People's Court upheld the original verdict that charged
Geng Jinping and Geng Jinzhu, brother and sister, with producing and selling
poisoned food.
Geng Jinping was sentenced to death and deprived of
political rights, and his personal property would all be confiscated. Geng
Jinzhu was sentenced to eight years in prison.
An appeal trial for a further two defendants, Zhang
Yujun and Zhang Yanzhang is set for 1:30 p.m.. The two Zhangs were charged with
endangering public security.
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Two policemen stand guard outside the
Shijiazhuang Intermediate People's court in Shijiazhuang, capital of north
China's Hebei Province, March 26, 2009. Hebei High People's Court
conducted the second public trial on tainted milk scandal related cases at
the Shijiazhuang Intermediate People's court on Thursday.(Xinhua/Wang
Kun)
Photo
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The
four appealed for a second hearing after the first trial at the Shijiazhuang
Intermediate People's Court two months ago.
The Intermediate Court has accepted a series of
tainted milk scandal related cases, since Dec. 26, 2008.
The court reached a verdict after the first trial on
Jan. 22, 2009. Zhang Yujun, who produced 770 tonnes of melamine-laced "protein
powder" and sold more than 600 tonnes to others, and GengJinping, who sold more
than 900 tonnes of milk tainted by 434 kg of protein powder to Sanlu, were both
given death sentences.
Zhang was convicted of endangering public safety,
while Geng was convicted of manufacturing and selling toxic food.
Also in the verdict of the first trial, Zhang
Yanzhang, buyer of the "protein powder", was given life imprisonment, while Geng
Jinzhu was sentenced to eight years in jail, with a 500,000 yuan fine.
Zhang Yujun and Zhang Yanzhang were accused of
illegally concocting and selling the so-called "protein powder," which was
mainly composed of melamine and malt dextrin. It was then added to raw milk to
make it appear high in protein content.
Police said they found their illegal production
workshop in the outskirts of Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province.
The two were accused of producing 600 tonnes of the fake protein powder from
September, 2007 to October, 2008.
At least six infants died and almost 300,000 became
ill after consuming dairy products tainted with the industrial chemical
melamine.
In an open letter in December, 2008, Sanlu and 21
other dairy companies offered 200,000 yuan (29,000 U.S. dollars) to each family
whose child had died, and 30,000 yuan for serious illnesses such as kidney
stones and acute kidney failure, 2,000 yuan was offered for each victim in less
severe cases.
China court rejects appeal of former Sanlu chairwoman
SHIJIAZHUANG, March 26 (Xinhua) -- A court in north China's Hebei Province on Thursday rejected the appeal of Tian Wenhua, former chairwoman of bankrupt Sanlu Group, which was at the heart of the tainted milk scandal.
The Hebei Higher People's Court upheld the original verdict in which Tian was sentenced to life in jail after being convicted of producing and selling fake and substandard products. She was deprived of political rights and fined 24.68 million yuan (3.6 million U.S. dollars). Full story
Former chairwoman of Sanlu Group
jailed for life over China milk
scandal
SHIJIAZHUANG, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Tian Wenhua, former board chairwoman of the Sanlu Group at the heart of China's tainted milks candal, was sentenced to life in prison by a local court Thursday.
Three other former executives of Sanlu were given between
five years and 15 years by the Shijiazhuang Intermediate People's Court.Full story
China court accepts first lawsuit over
melamine tainted milk
SHIJIAZHUANG, March 25 (Xinhua) -- A court in north China's Hebei Province
officially accepted a compensation lawsuit filed bythe family of a child who
became sick after consuming tainted baby formula.
The Xinhua District Court in Shijiazhuang, the provincial
capital, accepted the lawsuit Wednesday. It was filed by an un-named parent from
Beijing, confirmed Wang Wei, spokesman with the Shijiazhuang Intermediate
People's Court.Full story
More Chinese officials punished in
tainted milk scandal
BEIJING,
March 20 (Xinhua) -- Eight more senior government officials have been fired or
disciplined for supervisory failure in last year's scandal involving the
adulteration of Sanlu milk powder, the Communist Party of China (CPC)
disciplinary body said Friday.
The officials were from the General Administration of
Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), the ministries of
agriculture and health, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce
(SAIC) and the State Food and Drug Administration.Full story
