Academician sentenced for embezzlement in China

CHANGCHUN - Li Ning, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and professor at China Agricultural University, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for embezzlement at a court in Northeast China's Jilin province Friday.

Zhang Lei, an associate researcher at the university, also an accessory to the crime, was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison, according to a verdict of the Intermediate People's Court of Songyuan.

Li and Zhang were also fined 3 million yuan ($430,500) and 200,000 yuan, respectively, according to the verdict. Their illicit gains will be turned over to the national treasury.

Li and Zhang were found taking advantage of the positions of managing the funds for scientific research projects to embezzle over 37.56 million yuan from 2008 to 2012, including nearly 21 million yuan from the projects of other members in Li's research group.

The money was transferred to companies controlled by Li and Zhang to invest in other companies, according to the court.

According to the latest scientific research funds management document, over 3.45 million yuan of the 37.56 million yuan was considered illegal gains instead of embezzlement, said the verdict, adding that Li and Zhang were accused of embezzling more than 34.1 million yuan.

The court offered leniency to Li taking into consideration that part of the embezzled money has been recovered, and to Zhang as he confessed to his crimes.