China Sentences Two Men To Death Over Melamine Milk Scandal
Two men have been sentenced to death and a third given life in prison for their involvement in the tainted milk scandal that killed at least six children and made at least 300,000 more sick.
Melamine is an industrial chemical that is used in the production of plastic — but when added to watered down foods such as milk — it causes a false positive when tested for protein.
From Reuters:
One of the men sentenced to death was Zhang Yujun, who had made and sold over 600 tonnes of "protein powder" laced with melamine between October 2007 and August 2008, the official China Daily quoted prosecutors as saying earlier this month.
The powder was bought by middlemen who added it to pooled, watered-down milk from farmers that was then sold on to Sanlu. One of these men was also given the death sentence.
A third man was given a suspended death sentence, which usually means life in prison on good behavior. Other defendants received from five years to life imprisonment.
In other news, scientists have developed a test for melamine in milk. Researchers at Purdue University announced yesterday that their test can detect "tiny traces of the chemical" in about 25 seconds.
Scientists develop test for melamine in milk [Reuters]
China sentences two to death over tainted milkChina sentences two to death over tainted milk [Reuters]
(Photo:Lisa Brewster)
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Comments:
I would really like to know who first thought "Hey! We can save .00000000000000000000001 by adding an industrial chemical to these food products to fool the protein tests!"
Where's the "Taking it Seriously" tag? :P
Mr. Bigglesworth doesn't like tainted milk. It makes him bloated and angry. And when Mr. Bigglesworth gets angry people DIE!
Now why don't we do this here to all the douchebag CEO's that are responsible for the current economic meltdown? Instead we let them retain their money and power. Let's make an example out of them! I believe some good old medieval justice is in order here. Let's line wall street with corpses!
@cmdrsass: I totally agree with you on this! Unfortunately, many people will not, so we can expect the anti-death people to come posting pretty soon.
All along, I thought this was just some sort of cross-contamination mistake. I didn't realize this was intentional melamine addition. Sick.
@root4root: While I'm not for bloodshed in the case of Wall Street, I would gladly like to see the streets lined with executives with their heads and arms in the clink and everybody can take turns throwing rotten produce at them. All after they've had their money taken from them so that employees jobs can be reinstated.
10,000 people get to lose their jobs and you get to keep your jet and house in the Islands? Not in MY administration you wouldn't!
@Ash78: And almost certainly intentional collusion by the government supervisors, who of course are getting off scot-free.
@root4root: haha. I actually think that would be a good idea. Lets put it on Pay per view to make some some money back also!
Well turn this into "The Running Man: Wallstreet Edition".
@root4root: Because with that huge risk of being killed CEOs would not only take no risks at all which would be disaster for the American economy and drag financial innovation to a halt. Plus, in order to get anyone to actually take the job you'd have to pay them an order of magnitude more than current CEOs.
@BlackMage is doing the Time Warp agaaaaaaain!!!:
Todd, are you not aware that I get farty and bloated with a foamy latte?
Whenever China dishes out "justice" one has to wonder if they're actually punishing the criminals or if they just found some dissidents to kill.
@Ash78: Just as intentional as the contamination of Chinese "wheat gluten" and "rice protein concentrate" (actually just wheat flour with contamination) that ended up in pet food in 2007. And in food fed to livestock. That was eaten by chickens, hogs, and fish who then went to slaughter and ended up on your table. ([tinyurl.com])
That wake-up call wasn't enough. I hope this one is.
Now that's customer service!
@Valhawk:
Nah, they would still take risks because they think they can get away with it. Everyone thinks you can get away with something until you get caught. I don't really see how any of this has anything to do with risk, just pure, unadulterated greed.
No news here. China plugs foul ups regularly. Screw up big enough, you die.
No news here folks... keep moving.
So did they sentence to death the people who were complicit in killing hundreds (if not thousands) of pets around the world too?
Not that human life < animal life, but they should get justice too!
@Valhawk: They'd still take risks. Just not illegal ones that make them rich and rip off their employees. If they're going for a new product and it fails, how is that any different then normal business practices?
We're talking about LYING about what you're selling to huge corporations so that when it dries up they're stuck with a huge bill. That's kinda illegal no? Yeah. They'd stop doing that shit if they were gonna get drawn and quartered for it.
@shorty63136: I would love that. A good old fashioned disgracing by being chained to the street and rotten tomatoes thrown at them. Maybe a cane whipping, each person they screwed gets one fair shot with a stick. There will be rules in place to make sure they only end up very very bruised.
@Valhawk: You could have a law that if you pay your CEO less than 1 million per year counting perks, your executive cannot be tried for ruining the economy. 1 million is a lot of money even if half is in stocks of the company!
And as discussed in a previous thread, about why theres fewer people in jail in China as opposed to the u.s., well my friend, heres the reason. In china, if you F up, you freakin die.
@narq: One shot with a stick per person they screwed....Some would get millions of hits with a stick!
holy cow ... they don't mess around.
@Oranges w/ Cheese: wait, if human life > animal life, why would you give the death sentence to them?
Perhaps I should consider tossing out my melamine plates and bowls as well.
@Davan: and this is bad why? I've been say for as long as I can remember: bring back public executions.
I mistakenly read, "In other news, scientists have developed a taste for melamine in milk," thinking there was a whole 'nother problem.
@root4root: While I don't like France too much, I think one thing they do right is behead some of their leaders every now and then. Then they get the government to work for them. If we just do that a couple of times maybe stuff like this won't happen.
And in other news...Bernard Madoff sits in his multimilliondollar penthouse apartment while scores of people and charities go bankrupt and others commit suicide...
@cmdrsass:
@dveight:
If you understand the Chinese system these men are either the henchmen of the villains or the villains. Equal probability. If the real villains are too well connected they usually publicly execute a suitable scape goat. They believe finding someone to punish is important. The actual guilt is secondary.
I guess it's not too much different in the US. One of the Kennedy family almost got away with murdering a young girl and the Wall street traders to got us into this financial quagmire thought insanely stupid risk taking won't suffer at all. Better but the powerful still get off more lightly.
@AngrySicilian: China is the new poster boy for "taking it seriously" This is what other companies need to aspire to.
Politics and beliefs aside, this is one helluva a way to get the point across about committing crimes, no matter how high up you are. Did anything like this happen after that big lead-tainted product ordeal?
Except the corrupt Chinese government with little regulations, officials that take bribes, unfair and inconsistent law enforcement assure that it will happen again and again. They only seem to care when it impacts the bottom line of foreign trade. If its dead Chinese that's not near as bad.
I wonder how this would play out in the USA? Example Headline: "Bank CEO and henchmen sentenced to death for deceptive practices and loss of billions". Hmmmm, accountability? Do the crime, do the time?
@Ash78: One Jalop to another, it could be that you were preoccupied with the previews of the LeMons Thunderhill entrants... methinks there's a new in-race penalty that could come of this. Maybe drinking a quantity of milk "tainted" with laxatives and having to get back in the car for a few laps?
imdgonz: LOL! I like your comment.
@root4root: Imagine a line of crucified CEOs lined up along Wall St. Like something out of the Roman empire. I actually doesn't sound like a bad idea. Especially when their replacements have to pass by them everyday.
I support the integration of DEATH in to US business. I think upper management might be a little more ethical if DEATH were on the line.
@zentex: well I never said it was bad or good, im just saying that if you wonder why theres less people in prison in china than the us, well.. heres the reason.
@cmdrsass: I agree as well. It's ironic that in the U.S. corporate crimes that kill people are considered minor, but China recognizes that if you make a decision that leads to somebody else's death you should be held accountable, whether it's murder or putting poison in food to save a few bucks.
If somebody did that and my baby died I can't imagine wanting anything less than that person being executed.
@axiomatic: ... seeing the frothing mobs this site and others seem to form over anything corporate, something like that would sure as hell keep me out of upper management - I would not want to take the risk of being seen the wrong way or the good old Out of Context Soundbite Generator type BS get me murdered.
an appropriate punishment for the misery they inflicted