5 jailed for sale of illegal drugs

GUANGZHOU: Five employees of Qiqihar No 2 Pharmaceutical Co Ltd were given jail terms ranging from four to seven years yesterday for producing and selling counterfeit drugs.

Thirteen people at a hospital in Guangzhou died of kidney failure in April 2005 after being given drugs made by the Heilongjiang-based company.

The company's general manager Yin Jiade, deputy general managers Zhu Chuanhua and Guo Xingping, laboratory chief Chen Guifen, and chemical purchaser Niu Zhongren were all charged with "criminal offenses".