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| China's 'Brother Wristwatch' Yang Dacai jailed for 14 years for corruption | China's 'Brother Wristwatch' Yang Dacai jailed for 14 years for corruption |
| (14 days later) | |
| A provincial Chinese official who shot to internet fame last year after he was photographed grinning at the scene of a grisly bus crash has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption, state media has reported. | A provincial Chinese official who shot to internet fame last year after he was photographed grinning at the scene of a grisly bus crash has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption, state media has reported. |
| Before last August, Yang Dacai was just another nameless official – the head of the Shaanxi province work safety administration, specifically. But then photographs showing him smiling at the scene of a road accident – a collision between a bus and a tanker carrying methanol that killed 36 people — went viral on Sina Weibo, the country's most popular microblog. Some Weibo users, incensed by Yang's apparent callousness, retaliated by posting photographs of the official wearing luxury timepieces that he could not possibly afford on his public servant's salary. One user nicknamed him "Brother Wristwatch," and the appellation quickly became a symbol of official extravagance in newspapers and internet forums. | Before last August, Yang Dacai was just another nameless official – the head of the Shaanxi province work safety administration, specifically. But then photographs showing him smiling at the scene of a road accident – a collision between a bus and a tanker carrying methanol that killed 36 people — went viral on Sina Weibo, the country's most popular microblog. Some Weibo users, incensed by Yang's apparent callousness, retaliated by posting photographs of the official wearing luxury timepieces that he could not possibly afford on his public servant's salary. One user nicknamed him "Brother Wristwatch," and the appellation quickly became a symbol of official extravagance in newspapers and internet forums. |
| Prosecutors concluded that Yang had been unable to explain the provenance of £527,000 in dubious assets and last month he pleaded guilty to taking £26,000 in bribes. Yang was stripped of his post and accused of "serious wrongdoing" last year, soon after the photographs went viral. | Prosecutors concluded that Yang had been unable to explain the provenance of £527,000 in dubious assets and last month he pleaded guilty to taking £26,000 in bribes. Yang was stripped of his post and accused of "serious wrongdoing" last year, soon after the photographs went viral. |
| China's newly appointed president, Xi Jinping, understanding the depth of public indignation over displays of official entitlement, has made frugality and an anti-graft campaign the hallmarks of his early tenure. While many of the campaign's targets have been first reported by social media users, the party has gone to great lengths to keep citizen journalism in check, arresting and intimidating scores of would-be whistleblowers. | China's newly appointed president, Xi Jinping, understanding the depth of public indignation over displays of official entitlement, has made frugality and an anti-graft campaign the hallmarks of his early tenure. While many of the campaign's targets have been first reported by social media users, the party has gone to great lengths to keep citizen journalism in check, arresting and intimidating scores of would-be whistleblowers. |
| On Thursday, the state broadcaster CCTV showed footage of Yang at the courthouse in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, dressed in an orange prison vest and smiling despite the severity of his sentence. | On Thursday, the state broadcaster CCTV showed footage of Yang at the courthouse in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, dressed in an orange prison vest and smiling despite the severity of his sentence. |
| He had previously defended his smile at the accident site as an attempt to cheer up anxious rescue workers, and argued that he acquired his watches by honest means. | He had previously defended his smile at the accident site as an attempt to cheer up anxious rescue workers, and argued that he acquired his watches by honest means. |
| "I worked for more than 10 years and eventually took the path of criminality, fell into the abyss of criminality – it is useless to repent after the fact," Yang said in his final statement, according to state media. "I have the fervent desire to admit my guilt, and plead that the court give me a new chance to behave with integrity." | "I worked for more than 10 years and eventually took the path of criminality, fell into the abyss of criminality – it is useless to repent after the fact," Yang said in his final statement, according to state media. "I have the fervent desire to admit my guilt, and plead that the court give me a new chance to behave with integrity." |
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