CHINA: DEATH SENTENCE APPEAL

in China, a Zhejiang business woman who received a death sentence for illegally raising funds appealed to the province's Supreme Court, a Beijing-based newspaper reported. Du Yimin, 43, was charged with collecting more than 120 million yuan (US$17.16 million) illegally by promising high returns to her 67 creditors from 2003 to July 2006, the Intermediate People's Court in Lishui City ruled on March 21. Du said in the indictment that her only purpose in borrowing money was to make up the deficit of her beauty salon. She claimed she never intentionally cheated others, so the court should not define her crime as "illegally raising funds by fraud," the China Youth Daily said. Du added that she had confessed her wrongdoings truthfully and had exposed others for crimes, so she asked for a lighter punishment, the report said. Du spent much of the money on apartments, cars and other luxury items, the court heard.