Chinese ex-rail chief given ‘suspended death’ for corruption

A Chinese court gave former railways minister Liu Zhijun a suspended death sentence, which basically means life in prison. Liu’s conviction brings to an end one of the most high-profile corruption cases in years, and makes him the first top official to be jailed since new leaders took office vowing to clean up the ruling Communist Party. Once hailed as the “father” of China’s flagship high-speed rail network, Liu, 60, was convicted of bribery and abuse of power by a court in Beijing. He was sacked as railways minister in 2011 after 8 years in the post, and was charged and convicted of accepting 64.6 million yuan in bribes to help 11 people secure contracts and promotions.

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