Sentenced to death for corruption

Sentenced to death for corruption

Xu Maiyong was nicknamed A former vice mayor in east China's Zhejiang Province has been sentenced to death for taking 145 million yuan (RM67 million) in bribes, embezzling 53 million yuan (RM24.5 million) and abuse of power.

Xu Maiyong, 52, who was nicknamed "Triple Plenty Xu" because of his money, real estate and women, was sentenced Thursday by the Intermediate People's Court of Ningbo City.

Xu was found guilty of soliciting and accepting bribes from 14 companies and individuals that needed his help for government projects, tax evasion, land use and job positions, China News Service reported.

The court heard the offences took place between 1995 and 2009, when he was vice mayor of Xiaoshan City, which is supervised by Hangzhou, head of Xihu District of Hangzhou and vice mayor of Hangzhou, the provincial capital.

The court also found him guilty of embezzlement when he headed a Hong Kong-based state-owned company.

When he was the director of Xihu District, he illegally helped companies get refunds of 71 million yuan.

After Xu was sacked and put under investigation in April 2009, several leading property developers in Hangzhou were questioned by anti-graft investigators.

Xu and his wife, Qi Jiqiu, are reported to have owned several flats nationwide.

Qi, a former real estate developer, has been accused of helping Xu cover up the source of 41.3 million yuan Xu obtained illegally. Qi is also accused of taking 3.12 million yuan in bribes. She is currently on trial.

Xu's inmate relationship with at least 10 women, mostly former colleagues, made him the subject of public gossip.

According to a report in Caijing Magazine, after Xu's arrest, anti-graft investigators started to question women staff members working for the Xihu District government.
Sour! ce: Shan ghai Daily

Published May 13 2011