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Ex-top cop gets 11 yrs for role in club blaze
By Chen Hong (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-01-21 07:45

SHENZHEN: A former police officer from this southern city was sentenced to 11 years' jail yesterday following a fire at a nightclub in September in which 44 people were killed and 64 were injured.

Chen Xuming, former deputy chief of Longgang district police, was found guilty at the Yantian District People's Court and given six years for dereliction of duty and a further six for taking bribes.

The sentences were commuted to a combined total of 11 years, the court said.

Chen stood trial in November along with two other police officers and four government employees charged with dereliction of duty that led to the fatal blaze.

As head of a team set up to improve operating standards at entertainment venues, Chen was responsible for ensuring they were equipped with appropriate fire safety equipment, the court said.

The team was also tasked with preventing drug dealers and prostitutes from operating at such venues.

However, the court heard that a nightclub co-owned by Wu Wang had been operating since 2007 without a fire safety certificate and other necessary licenses.

It had also been used for the purposes of drug dealing and prostitution, crimes for which Chen should be held responsible, the court said.

The former senior police officer was also found guilty of taking bribes totaling 60,000 yuan ($8,800) from another of the club's co-owners, Wang Jing.

The seven others tried with Chen have yet to be sentenced, but 26 people have been arrested in relation to the case.

(China Daily 01/21/2009 page5)