(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-01-16 14:19

A former political adviser in Henan Province was sentenced to death for committing six crimes, including raping more than 20 virgin girls in less than two years.

Wu Tianxi, 61, former vice chairman of Zhenping County's Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, was handed a death sentence along with a fine of 500,000 yuan (US$68,966) for raping more than 20 girls between the ages of 12 and 16. He was also found guilty of organizing and running a crime syndicate, Nanyang Intermediate People's Court ruled, the local Oriental Today reported Wednesday.

In previous reports, Wu, the richest person in Zhenping, was said to have raped 36 virgin girls.

In the spring of 2005, Wu asked a woman named Liu Pei to look for virgins for him as he hoped to save his deteriorating health and wealth by having sex with virgins, the report said.

Wu, the general manager of a food company in Zhenping, was detained on April 17.

Wu denied all the rape accusations in previous trials, stating he only engaged in prostitution.

Sexual intercourse with a girl under 14 is considered statutory rape in China and a criminal offense. Prostitution is a misdemeanor.

Police and prosecutors admitted they faced high pressure in tackling the case because of Wu's political status, according to a previous Xinhua news agency report.