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China executes tainted milk pair China executes tainted milk pair
(41 minutes later)
China has executed two people for their role in a scandal involving tainted milk powder that resulted in six children dying, officials have said.China has executed two people for their role in a scandal involving tainted milk powder that resulted in six children dying, officials have said.
More than 300,000 other infants were made ill from milk powder contaminated with melamine, an industrial chemical.More than 300,000 other infants were made ill from milk powder contaminated with melamine, an industrial chemical.
Zhang Yujun and Geng Jinping were the only people to have been executed over the scandal, court officials said. Zhang Yujun and Geng Jinping were the only people to have been executed, court officials said.
Nineteen other people were sentenced to prison terms for their roles in the scandal.Nineteen other people were sentenced to prison terms for their roles in the scandal.
Zhang Yujun was convicted of endangering public safety by dangerous means, for selling more than 770 tonnes of the tainted milk powder from July 2007 to August 2008, the official Xinhua news agency said.Zhang Yujun was convicted of endangering public safety by dangerous means, for selling more than 770 tonnes of the tainted milk powder from July 2007 to August 2008, the official Xinhua news agency said.
Geng Jinping, who managed a milk production centre, was convicted of supplying milk containing melamine to dairies, mostly belonging to the now-bankrupt Sanlu Group. Geng Jinping, who managed a milk production centre, was convicted of supplying milk containing melamine to the now-bankrupt Sanlu Group.
Melamine is used in the making of plastics and fertilisers. It shows an apparent high protein level when added to food products, but can cause kidney stones and kidney failure. Public outrage
The scandal, which was made public in mid-September, was the latest in a series of food safety failures. Melamine is used in the making of plastics and fertilisers. When added to food products, it indicates a higher apparent protein content but can cause kidney stones and kidney failure.
Tian Wenhua, the former chairwoman of Sanlu, was the highest-ranking executive charged over the scandal. She pleaded guilty to charges that did not include the death sentence, and received a term of life in prison. Sanlu had been China's largest seller of milk powder until news of the racket broke in mid-September last year, Xinhua said.
That provoked widespread public outrage in China and came after a series of similar food safety incidents.
Tian Wenhua, the former chairwoman of Sanlu, was the highest-ranking executive charged over the scandal. She pleaded guilty to charges that did not carry the death sentence, and received a term of life in prison.
Xinhua said the executions were carried out on Tuesday, but did not say where.
The two men were sentenced in January in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei, where Sanlu was based. Their appeals were rejected by the Hebei Provincial Higher People's Court in March.