China Scene: West

Embezzlement does not pay, official finds

Ma Shirui, a former official working for the Jiuquan transportation bureau in Gansu province, was sentenced on Wednesday to eight years in prison for embezzling public funds to pay for gambling.

The 35-year-old former official was in charge of two financial sections at the bureau from February 2001 until February 2007, during which time she embezzled 730,000 yuan ($102,600). Her scheme was uncovered in April 2007.