11 jailed up to 19 years for China lottery fraud

Eleven people who tried to defraud Chinese lottery winners by having their tickets declared forgeries were today sentenced to prison terms of up to 19 years, news reports said, following a scandal in which one disappointed winner threatened suicide.

The scheme in the western city of Xi’an received nationwide news coverage when it was uncovered earlier this year. Lotteries to raise money for charities, sports facilities and other causes attract tens of millions of players in China.