Zheng Xiaoyu
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 | This article is currently being heavily edited because its subject has recently died. Information about their death and related events may change significantly and initial news reports may be unreliable. The most recent updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
Zheng Xiaoyu (Chinese: 郑筱萸; Pinyin: Zhèng Xiǎoyú; December, 1944 - July 10, 2007) was director of the State Food and Drug Administration of the People's Republic of China. He was sentenced to death in the first instance trial at Beijing No.1 Intermediate Court on May 29, 2007.[1] He was executed on July 10, 2007 for corruption[2] and possibly tainted products in Mainland China.
Biography
Born in Fuzhou, Fujian, Zheng Xiaoyu received his bachelor's degree in biology from Fudan University in 1968. He joined the Communist Party of China in November 1979.
Zheng was director of the State Pharmaceutical Administration from 1994 to 1998, head of the State Drug Administration from 1998 to 2003, and director of the State Food and Drug Administration from 2003 to 2005.
In May 2007, Zheng was convicted of taking bribes and dereliction of duty and sentenced to death by a trial court in Beijing. These corrupt practices are believed to have led to 40 deaths in Panama from cough syrup that contained diethylene glycol in place of glycerin.[3]
Zheng entered an appeal for leniency on June 12, saying that the sentence was "too severe" citing the fact that he had confessed his crimes and cooperated with investigators. However, the court ruled that he was a "great danger" to the country and its reputation.
The appeal was rejected on June 22 and he was executed on July 10, 2007. [4]. State media did not report the method of execution, but it is believed that most such sentences are now carried out by lethal injection rather than by firing squad (Times Online, 10 July 2007).
Notes
- ^ Former head of China´s drug watchdog sentenced to death, China Daily, May 29, 2007.
- ^ BBC "China official executed for graft" July 10, 2007
- ^ Tremblay, Jean-François (June 4, 2007). "Chinese Drug Official Gets Death Sentence". Chemical and Engineering News. 85 (23). American Chemical Society: 8. Retrieved June 4, 2007.
- ^ Former head of China's drug watchdog executed, Xinhua News Agency, July 10, 2007.