Seven Executed for Making Counterfeit Bank Notes

Seven Executed for Making Counterfeit Bank Notes

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The seven principle criminals involved in the large-scale production of counterfeit bank notes were executed Thursday, February 8, in Shanwei, south China's Guangdong Province.

In China's biggest counterfeiting case since the founding of the People's Republic, Zhuo Zhenyuan, Zhuo Lianmao, Zhang Zetang, Zhang Linqi, Zhou Jiadong, Wen Zhiwu and Zhang Xitao formed a well-oiled counterfeiting ring and printed bank notes with a combined face value of 641.65 million yuan (US$77.3 million) between April of 1995 and June of 1999.

The Intermediate People's Court of Shanwei heard the case on August 29 last year. According to that court's ruling, the seven criminals were sentenced to death, stripped of their political rights for life and had their property confiscated.

Three other criminals in the ring, including Gao Xibo, were sentenced to life imprisonment, while two others convicted for minor crimes received sentences of 12 years and 10 years, respectively

On December 29 last year, the Guangdong Provincial Higher People's Court upheld a ruling made by the local court and submitted the ruling to the Supreme People's Court for approval.

The SPC upheld that ruling on February 6.