CHINA: FORMER AIRPORT CHIEF GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR BRIBERY, EMBEZZLEMENT

February 10, 2009: A former capital airports holding company chief was given a death sentence for bribery and embezzlement totaling more than 100 million yuan (14.6 million U.S. dollars), a court in east China's Shandong Province said after the sentencing.
Li Peiying, former board chairman and general manager of Capital Airports Holding Company (CAH), was given the sentence by the Jinan Intermediate People's Court.
Li, 59, was found guilty of seeking or accepting bribes totaling 26.61 million yuan while he was in office from 1995 to 2003. He abused his power to provide guarantees for others to get bank loans, the court heard.
Li also misappropriated 82.5 million yuan for personal use from 2000 to 2003, according to the court.
The court said the amounts involved were extraordinary and Li's crimes had inflicted great economic loss on the country.
CAH, under the Civil Aviation Administration of China, is a large state-owned enterprise, according to the company's official website.
It has 30 airports in nine provinces and more than 38,000 staff. (Sources: Xinhua, 10/02/2009)