China executes two over milk scandal
China executes two over milk scandal
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Tuesday, 24, Nov 2009 10:28
By Richard James.
Two people have been executed in China for their involvement in last year's tainted milk powder scandal.
Six children died as a result of the contaminated powder, with a further 300,000 made ill. The milk powder was found to contain melamine, an industrial chemical used in the making of plastics and fertilisers.
Chinese state media said Zhang Yujun and Geng Jinping were executed on Tuesday but did not say where.
The former was convicted of endangering public safety by dangerous means, for selling more than 770 tonnes of tainted milk powder from July 2007 to August 2008.
Geng was convicted of supplying milk containing melamine to the now bankrupt Sanlu Group and other dairies.
Another 19 people were convicted over the scandal and sentenced to varying periods in prison.
During the trial earlier this year it emerged the officials at the Sanlu dairy had become aware of the melamine contamination in early August 2008 but the first warnings were not issued until mid-September after China had hosted the Olympic Games.
Sanlu's former general manager Tian Wenhau was handed a life sentence for her role in the case.