CHINA: ABDUCTOR OF NINE BOYS EXECUTED BY LETHAL INJECTION

March 27, 2009: The man convicted of leading a gang that abducted nine boys in central China's Henan Province, was executed by lethal injection with the approval of the Supreme People's Court.
Ye Zengxi, 55, and his younger brother, Ye Xiaolin, led a gang to capture nine boys between April to December 2007 in Xixian County, Henan. Eight of the boys, aged from two to seven years old, were sold to rural families for 12,000 yuan to 33,000 yuan each, in Henan and the neighboring Shandong Province, according to the Nanyang Intermediate People's Court.
The other boy was held captive by his abductors.
Ye Zengxi was executed, his brother was given a death sentence with a two-year reprieve by the Supreme People's Court and was deprived of political rights for life. All his possessions were confiscated.
The other five criminals were given prison terms ranging from two to 13 years.
All the gang members were ordered to pay 68,000 yuan (9,700 U.S. dollars) to the children's families.
The trafficking gang used Ye Xiaolin's then 11-year-old nephew to lure the children away from their parents with toys or food, the court said.
All nine boys were in good health and were sent home last January. (Sources: Chinaview.cn, 27/03/2009)