Corrupt graft-buster avoids death sentence
A Chinese court has given a former top graft-buster in Zhejiang a suspended death sentence for accepting 7.7 million yuan (HK$8.8 million) in bribes.
The Zaozhuang Intermediate People's Court handed down the sentence to Wang Huayuan at the end of the trial, which began on July 14. Wang was convicted of taking bribes and failing to explain the source of his enormous personal assets. All of his assets have been confiscated. Wang was accused of power abuse in his capacity as secretary of the provincial Commissions for Discipline Inspection in Guangdong and Zhejiang between 1998 and 2009.
Xinhua quoted the court as saying Wang had dispensed favourable treatment that helped others in business, employment, litigation and in avoiding arrest. He was charged with taking 7.71 million yuan in bribes and being unable to account for the sources of another 8.94 million yuan of personal assets including cash, bank deposits, properties, shares and funds.
The court described the bribes as enormous and said his offences were of an 'extremely serious' nature. Xinhua said Wang's death sentence was suspended because he had co-operated with investigators, confessed to all of his crimes and returned illegally obtained assets. It is uncertain whether Wang, 62, will appeal.
