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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Milk scandal executives on trial | Milk scandal executives on trial |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Four milk company executives have gone on trial in China over a contamination scandal that left at least six children dead and hundreds of thousands ill. | Four milk company executives have gone on trial in China over a contamination scandal that left at least six children dead and hundreds of thousands ill. |
| The official Chinese news agency, Xinhua, said the former chairwoman of the Sanlu Group, Tian Wenhua, was among those in court. | The official Chinese news agency, Xinhua, said the former chairwoman of the Sanlu Group, Tian Wenhua, was among those in court. |
| She and three other executives face charges of producing fake or sub-standard products. | She and three other executives face charges of producing fake or sub-standard products. |
| In the past week, 17 people have gone on trial for links to the scandal. | In the past week, 17 people have gone on trial for links to the scandal. |
| The four top executives of Sanlu could face the death penalty if convicted. | The four top executives of Sanlu could face the death penalty if convicted. |
| Alongside Ms Tian are the deputy general managers Wang Yuliang, Hang Zhiqi and Wu Jengsheng. | Alongside Ms Tian are the deputy general managers Wang Yuliang, Hang Zhiqi and Wu Jengsheng. |
| Xinhua reported court sources as saying that Mr Wang is in a wheelchair after losing the use of his legs in a suicide attempt.China launched a new food safety campaign in December | Xinhua reported court sources as saying that Mr Wang is in a wheelchair after losing the use of his legs in a suicide attempt.China launched a new food safety campaign in December |
| Ms Tian told the court that she first learned of tainted milk complaints in May and then set up a working team under her leadership to handle the problem. | Ms Tian told the court that she first learned of tainted milk complaints in May and then set up a working team under her leadership to handle the problem. |
| She said she reported the problem to the city government on 2 August; Sanlu stopped production on 12 September, Xinhua said. | She said she reported the problem to the city government on 2 August; Sanlu stopped production on 12 September, Xinhua said. |
| It is not known how long the trials at the Shijiazhuang Intermediate People's Court in northern China would last or when the verdicts would be announced. | It is not known how long the trials at the Shijiazhuang Intermediate People's Court in northern China would last or when the verdicts would be announced. |
| Delays | Delays |
| Investigations have shown that dairy producers diluted milk supplies with water so that they could make more money. | Investigations have shown that dairy producers diluted milk supplies with water so that they could make more money. |
| They added the industrial chemical melamine to the diluted milk in order to give the appearance of higher levels of protein. | |
| MELAMINE SCANDAL 10 Sept: 14 babies reported ill in Gansu province13 Sept: First people arrested over the scandal15 Sept: Beijing confirms first deaths from the contamination22 Sept: Toll of ill babies rises to tens of thousands - and will rise to almost 300,000; head of China's quality watchdog resigns23 Sept: Other countries start to test Chinese dairy products or remove them from shops31 Oct: Chinese media suggest melamine is routinely added to animal feed24 Dec: The main dairy firm involved, Sanlu, is declared bankrupt26 Dec: The first trials begin31 Dec: Four senior Sanlu executives go on trial Timeline: China milk scandal The defendants include people accused of producing melamine and marketing it to milk producers, as well as milk collectors who mixed the chemical into raw milk sold to major dairies. | MELAMINE SCANDAL 10 Sept: 14 babies reported ill in Gansu province13 Sept: First people arrested over the scandal15 Sept: Beijing confirms first deaths from the contamination22 Sept: Toll of ill babies rises to tens of thousands - and will rise to almost 300,000; head of China's quality watchdog resigns23 Sept: Other countries start to test Chinese dairy products or remove them from shops31 Oct: Chinese media suggest melamine is routinely added to animal feed24 Dec: The main dairy firm involved, Sanlu, is declared bankrupt26 Dec: The first trials begin31 Dec: Four senior Sanlu executives go on trial Timeline: China milk scandal The defendants include people accused of producing melamine and marketing it to milk producers, as well as milk collectors who mixed the chemical into raw milk sold to major dairies. |
| Sanlu allegedly delayed revealing the practice even after baby illnesses rose, forcing its foreign partner, the New Zealand dairy firm Fonterra, to alert the Beijing government. | Sanlu allegedly delayed revealing the practice even after baby illnesses rose, forcing its foreign partner, the New Zealand dairy firm Fonterra, to alert the Beijing government. |
| It is also alleged to have resisted demands to recall its product, raising concerns about poor regulation and enforcement of food safety rules in China. | It is also alleged to have resisted demands to recall its product, raising concerns about poor regulation and enforcement of food safety rules in China. |
| Melamine was then found in a wide range of Chinese food products, some of them exported around the world. | Melamine was then found in a wide range of Chinese food products, some of them exported around the world. |
| Sanlu has since been declared bankrupt, and analysts have said China's dairy industry faces many challenges if it is to recover. | Sanlu has since been declared bankrupt, and analysts have said China's dairy industry faces many challenges if it is to recover. |
| High profile | High profile |
| The high publicity surrounding the trials is being taken as an indication of the central government's desire to be seen to be tackling the scandal. | The high publicity surrounding the trials is being taken as an indication of the central government's desire to be seen to be tackling the scandal. |
| The government has also announced a $160m compensation plan, but parents and their lawyers say it is too small. | The government has also announced a $160m compensation plan, but parents and their lawyers say it is too small. |
| According to the BBC correspondent in Beijing, James Reynolds, there is a real sense of anger in China against the dairy producers, and also against government officials and regulators who did not do their job properly. | According to the BBC correspondent in Beijing, James Reynolds, there is a real sense of anger in China against the dairy producers, and also against government officials and regulators who did not do their job properly. |
| On the internet, some people have called for Tian Wenhua and others to be given the death penalty. | On the internet, some people have called for Tian Wenhua and others to be given the death penalty. |
| Chinese quality inspectors are now investigating tableware for melamine levels, following reports it becomes dangerous when hot, Xinhua reported. | Chinese quality inspectors are now investigating tableware for melamine levels, following reports it becomes dangerous when hot, Xinhua reported. |
| China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine "has always put great stress on food and tableware product safety", Xinhua quoted it as saying. | China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine "has always put great stress on food and tableware product safety", Xinhua quoted it as saying. |