FORMER SHAANXI FREEWAY EXECUTIVE GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR BRIBERY

the former board chairman of a northwest Chinese freeway construction company received a death sentence, with a two-year stay, after being convicted for bribery. The ruling was handed down by the Intermediate People's Court of Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province, against Chen Shuangquan, who formerly was chairman of the Shaanxi Freeway Construction Group Company (SFCGC). The court heard that he took advantage of his post and sought benefits on behalf of a number of construction organizations and individuals in relation to freeway construction and loan guarantees. He received substantial bribes in return, the court was told. These bribes added up to 14.73 million yuan (about 2.1 million US dollars), which were paid in various currencies, including 930,000U.S. dollars and 10 million Japanese yen. The court said that the scale of the bribery was very serious and Chen deserved the harshest punishment. However, since he had cooperated with investigators, "leniency was shown in meting out the penalty," it said.