Fake salt bust hints at bribery in sector

When Chongqing police busted a gang that processed and resold nearly 800 tons of illegal edible salt in a year, it only hinted toward the corruption that plagues the domestic salt industry functioning in an imperfect legal system, officials have said.

Of the 10 accused who stood trial in the southwest municipality on Nov 5, Xu Shouhua and Tan Zhengbing, the prime suspects, were sentenced to 13 and 12 years behind bars.

The court, which found the duo guilty of illegal operations, also fined the two 400,000 yuan ($59,000) and 150,000 yuan, respectively. The court is yet to deliver its verdict on the remaining accused in the case, which is arguably one of the largest cases of fake edible salt exposed in the country.