Criminal Justice
China Drug Official Gets Death
A second Chinese food and drug official has been sentenced to death for accepting bribes from medical companies seeking approval for their products.
The sentence against Cao Wenzhuang, a department director at the State Food and Drug Administration, may not be carried out, the Associated Press reports. Cao was given a two-year reprieve, and such sentences are usually commuted to life in prison if the inmate shows evidence of reform.
Cao received the reprieve because he provided evidence in other cases. His lawyer told the AP that Cao does not admit to accepting bribes.
Cao oversaw the pharmaceutical registration department and was secretary to Zheng Xiaoyu, also sentenced to death for taking bribes.
