Two people were executed today for their role in milk contamination scandal which killed at least six children last year. From Reuters:
A total of 21 Sanlu executives and middlemen were tried and sentenced in January by a court in the northern city of Shijiazhuang for their involvement in the case.
The official Xinhua news agency, citing a court statement, said Zhang Yujun was executed “for the crime of endangering public safety by dangerous means,” while Geng Jinping was convicted of producing and selling toxic food.
It said Zhang produced more than 770 tonnes of melamine-laced protein powder, of which he sold more than 600 tonnes, between July 2007 and August 2008.
Geng sold more than 900 tonnes of tainted milk, Xinhua added.
But the woman most widely blamed for the tragedy received a sentence of life in jail.
The BBC interviews people in China for their reactions to the executions:
It’s a chain of responsibility and many mistakes were made along this chain. I think bigger companies should take more responsibility for their actions, and the government should take more responsibility too.
I can’t say this couldn’t happen again. We don’t have a very good social environment and I don’t think it’s been handled very well.
I think the food industry is improving a bit, but there’s still a long way to go. People are more aware of the consequences of damaged food. I do think about those people whose children have suffered.
