CHINESE HIGHWAY EXECUTIVE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR CORRUPTION

a transport executive accused of corruption involving a total of 50 million yuan (US$6.8 million) was sentenced to death in north eastern China, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. Former Northeast Expressway Co Chairman Zhang Xiaoguang's sentence was suspended for two years by the Intermediate People's Court of Baicheng City, Jilin Province, after which it would likely be reduced to life in prison.
Zhang had been found guilty of taking bribes, corruption, embezzling public funds, "illegally seeking private interest on behalf of relatives," and "possessing major assets for which he could not account." Zhang's personal property was also confiscated, the report said. The Baicheng court confirmed the charges and Zhang's sentence but gave no other details. Xinhua said prosecutors believed Zhang deposited 293 million yuan of Northeast Expressway funds in the Bank of China branch in the northeastern city of Heilongjiang where Gao was manager, apparently in return for bribes.