Two Sentenced to Death Over Chinese Milk Scandal
The Chinese courts sentenced a dairy producer and distributor to death today. It also sentenced a dairy executive from San-Lu Dairy to life in prison. These are the first people convicted in the melamine scandal that killed six children in China and sickened thousands. Melamine is a chemical used in fertilizer and plastics. It can appear to be a protein, and was used by producers to boost profits by adding melamine to watered down and powdered milk. The majority of the illnesses stemmed from San-Lu products.
Families of victims say government officials should also be tried for lax oversight. Chinese lawyers are also filing a class action lawsuit with the Chinese Supreme Court on behalf of 213 families affected by the unscrupulous practice.
Chinese officials have tried to quell the anger over this scandal by blocking foreign journalists from attending the proceedings and keeping residents from traveling to the courthouse in Shijiazhuang.
[via NY Times]

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