Corrupt Drug Chief Executed

CHINA today executed the former head of its food and drug watchdog who had become a symbol of the country’s wide-ranging problems on product safety.

Zheng Xiaoyu’s execution was confirmed by state television.

“The few corrupt officials of the State Food and Drug Administration are the shame of the whole system and their scandals have revealed some very serious problems,” said SFDA spokeswoman Yan Jiangying.

Zheng was sentenced to death for taking bribes to approve an antibiotic blamed for at least 10 deaths.

The former pharmaceutical registration department director, Cao Wenzhuang, was given a two-year reprieve after being sentenced to death for accepting bribes.

(c) 2007 Evening Mail; Birmingham (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.