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SCMP Reporter

Shenzhen's former Customs chief, Zhao Yucun, was yesterday sentenced to life in prison for accepting bribes, Xinhua reported.

Also sentenced by the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court yesterday were Zhao's two daughters - Zhao Ying and Zhao Ping - who received jail terms of six years and three years respectively. They were both convicted of playing a role in their father's corruption. The court also ordered the confiscation of Zhao Yucun's personal property.

Zhao Yucun first went on trial last March and is Shenzhen's most senior official sentenced on bribery charges. Another official, former vice-mayor Wang Ju went on trial last month on corruption charges but he has not yet been sentenced.

According to Xinhua, Zhao helped smugglers to evade Customs duties, buy goods seized by Customs at auctions at artificially low prices, and win approval to import restricted goods.

Xinhua said yesterday Zhao was spared the death sentence because he had volunteered information to police that had led to other convictions. It said his two daughters were sentenced 'leniently' because they had confessed their crimes.

Zhao and his two daughters had surrendered the bribes they took after their arrest, Xinhua said.

However, the report did not say what's happened to Zhao's wife, Jia Jianxia. Earlier press reports had said she was also being investigated on bribery charges.

Zhao Yucun's case was first exposed three years ago when anti-graft police were investigating a smuggling case in Guangdong's Huizhou.

Separately, Li Yuguo, former chairman of the state-owned Shenzhen Chengjian Group, was given a suspended death sentence by the same court yesterday. He was convicted of accepting more than seven million yuan (HK$6.6 million) to help others obtain government jobs.

Zhao Yucun was among a number of senior Customs officials sentenced for corruption in recent months. Last September, Wang Leyi, deputy Customs director, was jailed for 13 years for accepting 560,000 yuan in bribes.

In his address to the 16th Communist Party Congress, President Jiang Zemin emphasised the importance of fighting corruption.



Shenzhen Customs chief gets life in jail for accepting bribes