a village official in east China's Zhejiang Province was sentenced to death for hiring five men to murder an election rival

a village official in east China's Zhejiang Province was sentenced to death for hiring five men to murder an election rival, a local court said. Wang Bentie, head of the villagers' committee of Xiawan Villagein Yongjia County, committed the crime to retain his post, said the Intermediate People's Court of Wenzhou City. Wang spent 8,000 yuan (US$1,170) to attack candidate Wang Tianhou on June 29 with knives. Wang Tianhou died from his injuries three days later in hospital. One of the hired men was also sentenced to death on Monday, while the other four got six to 15 years in prison.