Corrupt Official Sentenced to Life ImprisonmentGao Xiaodong, an official who was in charge of infrasturcture projects of Beijng-based University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), has been sentenced to life imprisonment for graft and defalcation.A court investigation showed that Gao, 56, secretly held back part of the investment for a construction project, amounting to about 422,000 yuan (some 51,000 U.S. dollars) from 1995 to 1997. He deposited the sum in his own bank account. He also pilfered tens of thousands of dollars from public funds by tampering with accounts and contracts. Gao even demanded and received bribes from business partners. Gao had been in the post since 1988, and was even appointed general manager of a company established by UIBE to deal with construction projects. The majority of the illicit money has been recovered. |
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