Zhang Rushao, former secretary of the Communist Party of China
in Heshan, Guangdong Province, has been sentenced to 14
1/2 years in prison for accepting bribes worth about 3.85 million
yuan (US$475,000).
The Intermediate People's Court in Jiangmen City heard that
Zhang was unable to identify the source of his assets totaling 4.71
million yuan over a span of 10 years starting in 1993. At that
time, Zhang was deputy Party secretary of Kaiping City and in
charge of affairs concerning rural and township enterprises.
Zhang was exposed due to a separate lawsuit filed in Hong Kong
by his wife Hu Zhaoxiu in March 2004.
Hu sued a Hong Kong businessman for forging her signature to
obtain a platinum credit card which led her to lose 4.76 million
yuan. Zhang did not appeal the verdict.
(Shanghai Daily July 7, 2006)
