China sentences corrupt official to death

CHINA sentenced the former head of its food and drug watchdog to death yesterday on corruption charges, for accepting bribes in return for granting approvals for hundreds of medicines.

The sentence by a Beijing court comes as China scrambles to assert control over its chaotic food and pharmaceutical industries following a series of public health scares from Chinese-made products.

Zheng Xiaoyu, 62, looked haggard and despondent as court security officers clapped handcuffs on him following the verdict.

The former director of China’s state food and drug administration accepted $850,000 (€632,000) in bribes, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted the court as saying.

“(Zheng’s acts) greatly undermined the uprightness of an official post and the efficiency of China’s drug monitoring and supervision, endangered public life and health and had a very negative social impact,” the court said.

Among the consequences of Zheng’s actions, the court said, six bogus drugs received approval. One Chinese firm allegedly bribed Zheng to grant approval for 277 medicines, mostly high-profit antibiotics.