CHINA. EX-BANK OF CHINA EXECUTIVE SENTENCED TO DEATH WITH REPRIEVE FOR GRAFT

Liu Jinbao, a former senior executive of the Bank of China accused of corruption, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, the Xinhua news agency reported. Xinhua said that Liu, former chief executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong) and vice chairman of Bank of China Group, had been found guilty of embezzling 7.52 million yuan and taking bribes of 1.43 mln yuan. Liu was also unable to explain the source of another 14.51 million yuan in his possession. The news agency said all of Liu's personal assets had been confiscated. Liu was charged in July for the crimes, which were said to have been committed between 1996 and 2003.