Anhui official gets life for corruption
- Source: Global Times
- [08:06 February 09 2010]
- Comments
By Zou Le
A former Party chief in Anhui Province was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve Monday afternoon after he was found guilty of pocketing millions in bribes, retaliation and framing whistle-blowers to cover up his crimes.
The Wuhu Intermediate People's Court said Zhang Zhian of Yingquan district took 3 million yuan ($439,393) in bribes over several years and then tried to frame a lower-ranking official named Li Guofu after he tried to report Zhang to authorities.
Another official who colluded with Zhang was given a 6-year prison term. Both of them said they would appeal.
According to the local authorities, Zhang intercepted an anonymous letter in 2007 intended for the local discipline inspection department. It contained details about Zhang's transgressions.
It was not clear how Zhang knew of the letter. Zhang concluded Li Guofu was the writer and retaliated.
Zhang ordered the head of the local prosecution office to frame Li on several charges of corruption and embezzlement.
A month later, police arrested Li and found the documents that Li sent to expose Zhang.
In February 2008, the local prosecutor prosecuted Li for corruption, under Zhang's instructions. He was accused of bribery and forging documents.
However, Li committed suicide in prison before a sentence was handed down.
Zhang Junhao, Li's son-in-law, was also a victim of retaliation. Zhang was arrested on the same day his father-in-law was taken by the police and was charged with corruption, harboring criminals and destroying evidence.
One year later, he was released without charge for lack of evidence.
"This is an extreme yet typical case of a chief leader retaliating against people who report him," said professor Yang Chengju of the Law School of Anhui University.
Yang said authorities are not following up properly to tips.
Guo Zhiyuan, another professor at the same university, called for legal protection for such informants.
"Tips from the public led to about 90 percent of anti-corruption trails. But there is no regulation on how to punish those who reveal the informants' personal information," Guo said.
Zhang Zhian is no stranger to controversy.
In 2007, the media reported on a grand office in Yingquan district of Fuyang he built to look similar to the White House from outside. The reports threw Zhang into the limelight and people referred to him as the "Party chief of the White House".
The building reportedly cost 30 million yuan ($4.3 million), a third of the local government's annual fiscal income
Zhang Jie contributed to this story
