BEIJING: China’s former railways minister Liu Zhijun was given a suspended death sentence yesterday for “especially huge” bribery, becoming the first highest-ranking official to be punished for corruption since new leaders vowed to clean up the ruling Communist Party.
Once hailed as the “father” of China’s flagship high-speed rail network, Liu, 60, was convicted of bribery and abuse of power by a court in Beijing, the official Xinhua news agency said. He was sacked in 2011 after eight years in the post over the scandal involving 800m yuan ($130m). He was convicted of accepting 64.6m yuan in bribes to help 11 people secure contracts and promotions.
The No 2 Intermediate People’s Court held that Liu’s crimes involved an “especially huge amount of money” and “caused colossal losses in the public assets, violating rights and interests of the state and the people.” “He was sentenced to death with two years’ suspension,” a court official said. Suspended death sentences are normally commuted to life imprisonment. AFP
