China is not a country for Corrupt officials has place. Dozens of former politicians and government officials has been executed for their crimes.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SHANGHAI—A long-lasting sweep against corruption in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing claimed on Wednesday its most prominent casualty with the execution of the city’s former justice chief.
Wen Qiang was put to death following the rejection in May by China’s Supreme Court of an appeal of his conviction on charges including bribery, shielding criminal gangs, rape and inability to account for millions of dollars in cash and assets, according to Xinhua news agency. Xinhua didn’t say how Mr. Wen was executed.
At the time of his arrest last September, Mr. Wen headed Chongqing’s judiciary as director of the municipal Judicial Bureau. Previously, he served for 16 years as the vice director of the Public Security Bureau.
In court, Mr. Wen was photographed wearing a yellow prison jersey imprinted with a “1,” apparently indicating his notoriety as the prosecution’s lead offender. He was convicted in April.
Over the past year, Chongqing mobster trials have grabbed national headlines with lurid revelations about sex, guns, drugs and cash, all traded in an atmosphere where the underworld blended with officialdom. Thousands were arrested and least 90 officials have so far been prosecuted, with death sentences or life terms handed down in 65 cases.
Among the prominent trials were those of a top judge, a defense lawyer and Mr. Wen’s brothel-owning sister-in-law, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
The investigation has shaken hilly Chongqing, affecting operations from coal mines in its hinterland to the swanky downtown Hilton Hotel that was briefly closed last month over police allegations it tolerated prostitution and gang activity.
Coverage of Mr. Wen’s execution Wednesday on Internet news sites was largely identical to the official Xinhua report, a possible indication that government is taking a more active role in controlling the message emerging from a corruption probe that has raised questions about the law and order situation elsewhere in China.
“Safeguarding the livelihood of the people should be the ruling party’s long-term cornerstone,” Mr. Bo said in a speech late last month. Source: Washington Post.