Cheng Kejie's Appeal RejectedThe Beijing Higher People's Court has rejected Tuesday Cheng Kejie's appeal during a public hearing at the second instance trial, maintaining the verdict at the first instance.Cheng Kejie, former vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, was sentenced to death with all political rights deprived of permanently. He was found guilty of accepting bribes totaling 44 million yuan, in collaboration with his mistress Li Ping. The verdict at the first instance was made by the No.1 Intermediate People's Court of Beijing on July 31. The death sentence should be ratified and approved by the Supreme People's Court before Cheng can be executed, according to China's Criminal Procedural Law. |
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