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Two face death over Chinese milk Two face death over Chinese milk
(20 minutes later)
Two men have been given the death penalty for their involvement in China's contaminated milk scandal.Two men have been given the death penalty for their involvement in China's contaminated milk scandal.
The former boss of the Sanlu dairy at the centre of the scandal was given life imprisonment.The former boss of the Sanlu dairy at the centre of the scandal was given life imprisonment.
They are among 21 sentences being handed down by the court in northern China, where Sanlu is based.They are among 21 sentences being handed down by the court in northern China, where Sanlu is based.
The scandal, in which melamine was added to raw milk to make it appear higher in protein, led to the deaths of six babies and made some 300,000 ill.The scandal, in which melamine was added to raw milk to make it appear higher in protein, led to the deaths of six babies and made some 300,000 ill.
It caused outrage in China and has tainted the image of the country's food industry both at home and abroad.It caused outrage in China and has tainted the image of the country's food industry both at home and abroad.
Illegal workshopIllegal workshop
One of the most eagerly-awaited sentences was that of Tian Wenhua, who was chairwoman of the Sanlu Group, the largest producer of baby milk powder. The most senior figure to be sentenced was Tian Wenhua, who was chairwoman of the Sanlu Group, the largest producer of baby milk powder.
MELAMINE SCANDAL 10 Sept: 14 babies reported ill in Gansu province15 Sept: Beijing confirms first deaths from the contamination22 Sept: Toll of ill babies rises to tens of thousands - and eventually will rise to almost 300,00023 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 bankrupt 31 Dec: Four senior Sanlu executives go on trial2 Jan:Firms involved ask for forgiveness in a mass New Year text message22 Jan: A court in China begins handing down sentences Timeline: China milk scandalMELAMINE SCANDAL 10 Sept: 14 babies reported ill in Gansu province15 Sept: Beijing confirms first deaths from the contamination22 Sept: Toll of ill babies rises to tens of thousands - and eventually will rise to almost 300,00023 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 bankrupt 31 Dec: Four senior Sanlu executives go on trial2 Jan:Firms involved ask for forgiveness in a mass New Year text message22 Jan: A court in China begins handing down sentences Timeline: China milk scandal
She had pleaded guilty to charges of producing and selling fake or substandard produce in December. When the scandal broke in September, it emerged that Sanlu had known it was selling toxic milk - and allowed around 900 tonnes of it to leave its dairies.
It was only when its New Zealand partner intervened that production stopped.
Tian Wenhua pleaded guilty to charges of producing and selling fake or substandard produce in December.
The Intermediate People's Court in Shijiazhuang gave her a life sentence and ordered her to pay a fine of 20m ($2.9m) yuan.The Intermediate People's Court in Shijiazhuang gave her a life sentence and ordered her to pay a fine of 20m ($2.9m) yuan.
Sanlu itself was fined 50m yuan ($7.3m), Xinhua news agency reports, even though the firm has been declared bankrupt.Sanlu itself was fined 50m yuan ($7.3m), Xinhua news agency reports, even though the firm has been declared bankrupt.
Three other former Sanlu executives were given between five years and 15 years.Three other former Sanlu executives were given between five years and 15 years.
Earlier the court sentenced Zhang Yujun and Geng Jinping to death.Earlier the court sentenced Zhang Yujun and Geng Jinping to death.
Zhang Yujun was accused of running an illegal workshop in Shandong province in eastern China, producing 600 tonnes of the fake protein powder - the largest source of melamine in the country.Zhang Yujun was accused of running an illegal workshop in Shandong province in eastern China, producing 600 tonnes of the fake protein powder - the largest source of melamine in the country.
He was sentenced along with Zhang Yanzhang - accused of selling on Zhang Yujun's protein powder - who was given a life sentence.He was sentenced along with Zhang Yanzhang - accused of selling on Zhang Yujun's protein powder - who was given a life sentence.
Milk producer, Geng Jinping had been convicted of producing and selling toxic food to dairy companies.Milk producer, Geng Jinping had been convicted of producing and selling toxic food to dairy companies.
His associate Geng Jinzhu was given eight years in prison.His associate Geng Jinzhu was given eight years in prison.
Gao Junjie, who was also accused of selling protein powder to milk producers, received a suspended death sentence, Xinhua said.Gao Junjie, who was also accused of selling protein powder to milk producers, received a suspended death sentence, Xinhua said.
Huge angerHuge anger
When the scandal broke in September, it emerged a chain of melamine producers and middlemen had been supplying milk dealers with the product. Tainted milk made thousands of Chinese babies ill The scandal left parents terrified and caused outrage across the country, the BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Beijing says.
It came only four years after an earlier milk powder scandal left 13 babies dead.
The government has scrambled to fight off allegations that it reacted slowly to the latest crisis, by pledging to improve food safety standards and promising to bring the culprits of the scandal to court.
But families of the victims say China's lack of openness, public accountability and official corruption mean they have little faith that similar poisonings will not happen again, our correspondent reports.
All together, 22 companies sold contaminated milk, which had been supplied by a chain of melamine producers and middlemen. Tainted milk made thousands of Chinese babies ill
The dealers added the industrial chemical to boost the apparent protein content of milk, which had often been watered down to make more money.The dealers added the industrial chemical to boost the apparent protein content of milk, which had often been watered down to make more money.
Major dairy companies bought the milk from such dealers, failing to test the milk for purity and nutritional value.Major dairy companies bought the milk from such dealers, failing to test the milk for purity and nutritional value.
The result was widespread poisoning of babies, the group most vulnerable to tainted milk as it was their only food source.The result was widespread poisoning of babies, the group most vulnerable to tainted milk as it was their only food source.
Kidney damage was reported in hundreds of thousands of people. At least six babies were killed because of it.Kidney damage was reported in hundreds of thousands of people. At least six babies were killed because of it.
The scandal prompted levels of anger in China unseen for many years, the BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Beijing says.
The government scrambled to fight off allegations that it reacted slowly, by pledging to improve food safety standards and promising to bring the culprits of the scandal to court.
Are you in China? What do you think of the sentences handed down to those involved in the scandal? Did you consume or were you affected by contaminated milk?Are you in China? What do you think of the sentences handed down to those involved in the scandal? Did you consume or were you affected by contaminated milk?
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