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78 officials sued over environmental neglect
(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-08-17 19:33

78 officials were sued by the Zhengzhou Prosecutor's office in Henan province for negligence in dealing with cases concerning endangering energy resources and the environment, the local media reported Monday.

From May last year to July this year, the municipal prosecutor's office investigated 40 cases in total involving 78 officials, including the head of Cuimiao Township in Xingyang city, and the head of city's coal mine safety administration, both of whom allegedly tried to cover up the causes of last year's blast in a coal mine, which killed 19 workers.

It is reported that these cases have caused an economic loss of 40 million yuan ($5.9 million dollar), and the deaths of 79 people.