Research or Buy a Car New or Used advertisement Friday, October 12, 2001 Home > World > Article News Home National World Opinion Entertainment Column 8 a.m. Edition Text Index -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sport Sports News Rugby Heaven RealFooty -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Biz/Tech Biz-Tech News Money Manager Trading Room I.T. News Icon -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extra Letters Editorial Web Diary Spike News Review Spectrum Travel Multimedia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sydney Weather TV Guide Visiting Weekends Away -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Market Shopping Jobs Property Buy/Sell Cars Auctions I.T. Jobs Classifieds -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Services Advertise - print - online Delivery - paper - e-mail - handheld Subculture -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help Audio/video - WORLD Corrupt mayor and his deputy sentenced to death By John Schauble, Herald Correspondent in Beijing China's campaign against corrupt officials has gathered pace: the former mayor and vice-mayor of the north-eastern provincial capital, Shenyang, have been sentenced to death. Mu Suixin was sentenced to death, suspended for two years, and his deputy, Ma Xiangdong, was sentenced to immediate death. Shenyang Intermediate Court also convicted 14 other local officials on corruption charges, state media reported yesterday. At least three others - the public property chief, Guo Jiusi, the construction committee head, Ning Xianjie, and the director of the Shenyang Tobacco Bureau, Zhou Wei - reportedly received immediate or suspended death sentences. Mu was forced to resign as mayor of China's fifth-largest city last December over a scandal linking organised crime bosses to top officials in Shenyang. A total of 122 officials were arrested on charges linked to the scandal. China Central Television reported Mu had accepted bribes worth more than 6.6million yuan ($1.65million) and 2.6million yuan in property between 1993 and 2000. Ma, the deputy mayor, was accused of squandering millions of dollars of public money in casinos in Macau and taking bribes from junior officials. Other officials convicted included the former president of the Shenyang Intermediate Court. The chief prosecutor of the province, Liu Shi, was convicted of having accepted bribes and having interfered in the investigation of Ma's case. Jiao Meigui, former vice-president of the Shenyang Intermediate Court, took bribes from local gangsters and speculated with large amounts of public money, Xinhua news agency reported. All officials were found guilty of accepting enormous bribes. They used "the convenience of their positions, power and material conditions, wantonly taking bribes and conspiring to procure gains on others' behalf", the court found. Beijing is determined to clean up endemic official corruption, which is seen as a huge hindrance to economic development and foreign investor confidence. The most senior official to have been convicted and executed on corruption charges is Cheng Kejie, former vice-chairman of the National People's Congress, China's rubber stamp parliament. He was executed last year on charges dating from his service as a party chief in Guangxi autonomous region in southern China. [go to top] In this section US targets terrorist hub Asia-Pacific new front in war on terror Megawati to be tested to the limit US networks asked to censor bin Laden $9.6m bounty for world's most wanted Honey shops help al-Qaeda move drugs, weapons and agents Blair's ambition to rebuild the nation Leaders seek to give Islam a different, quieter voice Envoy delivers clear message It's tunnel vision for Taliban leader when the bombers blast his home Lawyer braves bombs to see aid workers Australian seized in America's anxious skies War crimes court in race against time People-smuggling ring dismantled Sharon to face $3m question over campaign funds Corrupt mayor and his deputy sentenced to death -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Site Guide | Archive | Feedback | Privacy Policy Copyright © 2001. All rights reserved.