Chinese Authorities Execute Two Businessmen For Their Role In Tainted Milk Scandal

November 24, 2009 11:21 a.m. EST

Beijing, China (AHN) - Chinese authorities executed two businessmen for their role in a tainted milk scandal that resulted in six babies dying and causing 300,000 others to fall ill.

According to published reports from the country's state run media Zhang Yujun was executed for endangering public safety and Geng Jinping was executed for producing and selling toxic food.

The Shijiazhuang Municipal Intermediate People's Court sentenced Zhang to death for endangering public safety by dangerous means and producing more than 770 metric tons and selling more than 600 tons of melamine-laced protein powder from July 2007 to August 2008.

The court statement said Geng was executed for producing and selling toxic food and selling more than 900 tons of milk tainted with 434 kg of protein powder to the now defunct Sanlu Group. Sanlu Group, which was based in Hebei province, had been China's leading seller of milk powder for 15 years until the melamine scandal broke last year.

The health issue gained worldwide attention in September 2008, when several babies grew ill after drinking formula that contained melamine. The substance is routinely used in coatings and laminates, wood adhesives, fabric coatings, ceiling tiles and flame retardants. It appears some Chinese dairy plants added the chemical to milk products in an attempt to make it look as if the product contained had a high content of protein.

The contaminated milk resulted in kidney stones and urinary tract problems in hundreds of thousands of children. The scandal led to countries around the world including Russia banning imports of Chinese-produced dairy products.

The 22 Chinese dairy producers tied to the scandal have agreed to compensate victims' families.

Chinese authorities tried and sentenced 21 people for their role in the scheme. Aside from Zhang and Geng receiving death penalties, most of the others received sentences of at least 15 years in prison. One received a suspended death sentence which could be converted to life in prison. Three others were jailed for life, and the other 15 were given sentences ranging from five years to 15 years.