of three death sentences in chinese milk scandal

Three Death Sentences in Chinese Milk Scandal: A Chinese court sentenced 3 individuals to death by selling and producing tainted milk products. The former chairwoman of the Sanlu Group and together with some company executives were also sentenced.

The harshest sentences were given to Zhang Yujun, a dairy middleman who the government called one of the “principal criminals” in the scandal. He was sentenced to death after being convicted of selling 600 tons of melamine-tainted “protein powder” to dairy companies. Another dairy producer, Geng Jinpin, was also sentenced to death. A third man received the death penalty with a two-year reprieve, which means he could be spared execution.

Zhang Yujun (2nd R) and Zhang Yanzhang (1st L) who sold the chemical melamine mixed with malt starch [photo via]

A court spokesman said a second man, Zhang Yanzhang, was given a life sentence, also for endangering public safety.


Geng Jinping, left front, manager of a milk production base and Geng Jinzhu, right front, a driver at the base, stand trial on charges of milk adulteration [photo via]

Tian Wenhua, the 66-year-old former chairwoman of the Sanlu Group, one of China’s biggest dairy companies, was sentenced to life in prison for her failure to stop producing and selling the tainted goods even after her company learned that the products were flawed. She was the highest-ranking corporate executive brought to trial last year. She pleaded guilty to the charge of failing to act properly in the case. She was also fined about $3 million. Three other former executives at Sanlu, once the nation’s leading producer of baby formula, were sentenced to five to 15 years in prison for their roles in the scandal.

Tian Wenhua, Wang Yuliang, Hang Zhiqi and Wu Jusheng at the Shijiazhuang Intermediate People's Court in Shijiazhuang [photo via]