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General Veers
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Nov 24, 2009
2 executed for milk scandal
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Zhang Yujun (centre) was executed 'for the crime of endangering public safety by dangerous means'. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
<!-- story content : start --> BEIJING - CHINA on Tuesday executed two people for their role in a tainted milk scandal that killed at least six children and further sullied the made-in-China brand. Nearly 300,000 children fell ill last year after drinking milk intentionally laced with melamine, a toxic industrial compound that can give a fake positive on protein tests, sold mainly by the now bankrupt Sanlu Group. A total of 21 Sanlu executives and middlemen were tried and sentenced in January by a court in the northern city of Shijiazhuang for their involvement in the case. The official Xinhua news agency, citing a court statement, said Zhang Yujun was executed 'for the crime of endangering public safety by dangerous means', while Geng Jinping was convicted of producing and selling toxic food. It said Zhang produced more than 770 tonnes of melamine-laced protein powder, of which he sold more than 600 tonnes, between July 2007 and August 2008. Geng sold more than 900 tonnes of tainted milk, Xinhua added. But the woman most widely blamed for the tragedy received a sentence of life in jail. Many families of poisoned children had focused their anger on Sanlu's former general manager, Tian Wenhua, and said at the time they felt betrayed that she would not face execution. Tian pleaded guilty late last year to charges that did not carry the death sentence. -- REUTERS
2 executed for milk scandal
<!-- end left side bar -->
Zhang Yujun (centre) was executed 'for the crime of endangering public safety by dangerous means'. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
<!-- story content : start --> BEIJING - CHINA on Tuesday executed two people for their role in a tainted milk scandal that killed at least six children and further sullied the made-in-China brand. Nearly 300,000 children fell ill last year after drinking milk intentionally laced with melamine, a toxic industrial compound that can give a fake positive on protein tests, sold mainly by the now bankrupt Sanlu Group. A total of 21 Sanlu executives and middlemen were tried and sentenced in January by a court in the northern city of Shijiazhuang for their involvement in the case. The official Xinhua news agency, citing a court statement, said Zhang Yujun was executed 'for the crime of endangering public safety by dangerous means', while Geng Jinping was convicted of producing and selling toxic food. It said Zhang produced more than 770 tonnes of melamine-laced protein powder, of which he sold more than 600 tonnes, between July 2007 and August 2008. Geng sold more than 900 tonnes of tainted milk, Xinhua added. But the woman most widely blamed for the tragedy received a sentence of life in jail. Many families of poisoned children had focused their anger on Sanlu's former general manager, Tian Wenhua, and said at the time they felt betrayed that she would not face execution. Tian pleaded guilty late last year to charges that did not carry the death sentence. -- REUTERS
