The former chief judge of China's Hunan Higher People's Court
was sentenced to death at a trial in Beijing yesterday for
accepting millions of yuan worth of bribes, Xinhua news agency
reported today.
Beijing's No. 2 Intermediate People's Court said Wu Zhenhan took
bribes worth over 6 million yuan (US$759,500) from 1998 to 2003. Wu
reportedly accepted some of the bribes via his wife and son. Both
of them are considered accomplices, Xinhua said.
The court said Wu is guilty of accepting bribes and taking
advantage of his position. However, since Wu confessed to all the
crimes, he was given a two-year suspension on his death
penalty.
Wu has returned most of the illicit money and properties, the
court said.
Some earlier media reports said the former deputy chief of
Changsha Intermediate People's Court, which is affiliated with the
Hunan higher court, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for
bribing Wu to get a promotion.
In accordance with China's criminal procedural law, Wu is
entitled to appeal at Beijing People's Higher Court.
The Supreme People's Court is currently framing nation-wide
criteria on punishments for bribery.
(Shanghai Daily November 10, 2006)