A
former top official in China was sentenced to death for taking
bribes worth about $5 million US.
If executed, Cheng Kejie would be the most senior Chinese
official to be put to death for corruption.
He's a former deputy chair of the national legislature, and was
convicted for taking bribes while at the head of a poor southern
province.
Stung by a series of large corruption and smuggling scandals, the
Chinese government has an image problem it's trying to rectify with
a public campaign against corruption — a significant change for a
regime usually bent on secrecy.
Party investigators say Cheng took kickbacks to approve building
projects, promotions and commodity deals. They say he and his
mistress were trying to amass a fortune for their future marriage.
Cheng was expelled from the party in April.
The sentence was announced at a public hearing Monday. Cheng has
10 days to appeal the sentence.
