Following is a chronology of the case of Cheng Kejie, a former vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), who was executed today on charges of bribery:

-- In August 1999, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and judicial departments started investigations into Cheng's case.

-- On March 4, 2000, a news briefing for the annual NPC conference disclosed that Cheng would not attend the conference, because of his violation of laws and disciplines.

-- On April 20, the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection held a news conference to publicize the progress in investigations of Cheng's case. It said Cheng had been expelled from the Party.

-- On April 21, the Standing Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional People's Congress held a meeting to dismiss Cheng as a deputy to the Ninth NPC. The decision was reported to the NPC Standing Committee for records.

-- On April 25, China's Supreme People's Procuratorate decided to arrest Cheng.

-- On June 26, the No.1 Intermediate People's Court of Beijing Municipality began to handle Cheng's case, as authorized by the Supreme People's Court.

-- On July 13-14, the intermediate court held open hearings on Cheng's case.

-- On July 31, the intermediate court issued the first instance judgment sentencing Cheng to death, stripping him of his political rights for life, and confiscating all his personal property.

-- On August 22, the Higher People's Court of Beijing rejected Cheng's appeal and upheld the ruling of the intermediate court.

-- On September 7, the supreme court approved the death penalty for Cheng.

-- On September 14, Cheng was executed.

According to official records, Cheng, a native of Shanglin, Guangxi, was born in November 1933, and joined the CPC in February 1984. He worked for almost 30 years in the railway department as an engineer and official.

Before becoming a vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee in 1998, Cheng held a series of leading Party and government positions in the autonomous region, including the chairmanship of the regional government.

(People’s Daily)