'White House director' sentenced to death
On the left is the Yingquan district government office building; on the right is the US White House
CHINA's former 'White House director' was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for taking bribes, and retaliating against and framing an innocent person.
The sentence was handed down to Zhang Zhi'an, former secretary of Yingquan district of Fuyang in Anhui province by the Wuhu Intermediate People’s Court on Monday.
Wang Cheng - the district's former chief prosecutor - was also sentenced to six years in jail for helping Zhang, China Daily reported.
Zhang had been accused of taking revenge on Li Guofu by making up false charges against the man, who later committed suicide in a detention house.
Li's family, who was dissatisfied with the verdict, called for an immediate death penalty.
Zhang Zhi'an received death sentence for taking bribes, retaliating against and framing an innocent person
Zhang was also accused of abusing power by taking and asking for bribes 52 times involving a total of 3.6mil yuan (RM1.8mil).
In 2007, Zhang was given the nickname 'White House director' after he spent 30mil yuan (RM15mil) to construct the district government office building that looks identical to the US White House.
The same year, he received a letter that reported his wrongdoings that included bribery, making money out of selling government posts and abusing power.
Believing the whistleblower was Li, Zhang decided to take revenge by writing an anonymous letter containing false accusations of Li's misbehaviors and sending it to local police, the court and himself.
He then put pressure on the relevant departments to investigate Li, the then director of the business and commerce development bureau of Quanbei trade zone in Yingquan district and director of a local real estate company.
After Li was arrested, Zhang forced him to confess by threatening his family.
Li hanged himself at the prison hospital on March 13, 2008 after spending more than five months in the detention house.
His family said Li had become blind before he died and his unnatural death had attracted the attention of the public and media.
Four months later, Anhui provincial procuratorate decided to investigate the case and Zhang was prosecuted in December 2008.
Thirteen officials serving at district and town levels have been suspended since July for allegedly having bribed Zhang for promotions between 2001 and 2008.
Published Feb 9 2010
Comments (2)
.......So, the problem gets worse and worse, until I think, one day the whole country implodes, like the former USSR.
Malaysians should be thankful that we can still vote. We must protect our right to vote, at all cost.