CHINESE COURT UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY FOR COMPANY OFFICIAL OVER GRAFT

a Chinese court upheld a death penalty for a highway construction company manager who grafted and embezzled more than 110 million yuan (US$14.8 million). The High Court of Hebei Province convicted manager Zhang Guangli of graft, bribery and embezzlement of public funds, upholding the first-instance trial by the Intermediate People's Court of Zhangjiakou City in March. Zhang, a former board chairman and general manager of the Hohhot round-city highway construction company in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and his accomplices stole 43.52 million yuan between November 2002 and September 2004, the Zhangjiakou court heard in March. He transferred highway funds into bank accounts that were opened in the name of his brother and sister, alleging the money was meant for construction materials and garbage collection. He also took 13.2 million yuan in bribes to help others win contracts between late 2002 and August 2003, and embezzled 62.333 million yuan with accomplices between January 2003 and February 2004, the Zhangjiakou court heard. Following the first trial, the Zhangjiakou court handed down the death penalty to Zhang and confiscated all his properties.