China executes two over tainted milk scandal: state media

November 24, 2009

Two men were executed in China on Tuesday for their roles in a scandal over contaminated milk powder that led to the deaths of at least six infants and sickened up to 300,000, state media said. The men had been sentenced to death earlier this year by a court in the northern city of Shijiazhuang for producing and selling toxic ingredients that ended up in the infant milk powder, Xinhua news agency said. Zhang Yujun and Geng Jinping were put to death following execution orders issued by China's high court and after their appeals were turned down in March, Xinhua said. It cited a statement from the Shijiazhuang Municipal Intermediate Court in Hebei province. AFP calls to the courts went unanswered.