Sanlu execs' fate 'may be' settled tomorrow

By Zhu Zhe (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-01-21 07:45

For most of the 296,000 families affected by the tainted baby milk formula, justice will prevail tomorrow.

The Shijiazhuang Intermediate People's Court said yesterday the second hearing of the four top executives of the Shijiazhuang-based Sanlu Group, the dairy firm at the center of the tainted milk scandal, will open tomorrow afternoon.

"It's very likely the court will announce the verdicts during Thursday's hearing," Li Yanwei, director of the court's general office, told China Daily.

The four defendants, including Sanlu's former chairwoman and general manager Tian Wenhua, stood trial on Dec 31 for "producing and selling fake or substandard products", a charge that could lead to a maximum life imprisonment.

Tian's lawyer Liu Xinwei told China Daily yesterday he had received the court notification on tomorrow's hearing, but would not predict the verdict. However, other lawyers said Tian and the three other former executives face sentences of between 15 years to life behind bars.

"Given the large number of victims and the huge negative impact of the incident, it's very likely Tian will get life imprisonment," Li Xiongbing, a Beijing lawyer who has been closely watching the case and offering legal help to affected families, said.

Milk products of Sanlu and some other dairy firms contaminated with the toxic chemical melamine have killed at least six children and left 296,000 with urinary tract ailments, according to figures from the Ministry of Health.

Meanwhile, 17 others who were found to have produced, or added melamine-laced "protein powder" to milk, and those who sold the tainted milk to Sanlu and other dairies, will also face sentencing tomorrow, the Xinhua News Agency quoted an unnamed spokesman of the Hebei Provincial Higher People's Court as saying yesterday.

Among them, six were accused of "endangering public security by dangerous means" on Dec 26 and Dec 29 at the Shijiazhuang Intermediate People's Court. Two others were charged with "producing and selling toxic food" at the same court on Dec 30. Both charges can lead to the death penalty.

The remaining nine defendants were tried on Dec 26 and 29 for "producing and selling toxic food" at courts in Hebei.

The affected families said they are anxiously waiting for the outcome.

"We believe the court will reach a fair verdict," Zhao Lianhai, the father of a sick 3-year-old in Beijing, said.

"But apart from those already on trail, some government officials who helped cover up the case should also receive criminal punishments," he said.

However, Dong Shiliang, a father from Yunan province whose 13-month-old boy has kidney stones, said the verdict is not what he cares about.

"Although some parents want the death sentence for Tian, what we care most about is the health of our children."