Officials, contractors get 3-19 years for fatal bridge collapse

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-09 20:54

CHANGSHA - Government officials and contractors responsible for a bridge collapse in central China's Hunan Province that killed 64 people in 2007 were sentenced to prison by their respective district courts Friday.

The 328-meter bridge, which was under construction over the Tuojiang River in Fenghuang County, collapsed in August 2007, killing 64 people and injuring 22 others.

The Hetang District People's Court in Zhuzhou City sentenced You Xingfu, general manager of the Fengda Road Construction Company and proprietor of the bridge in Fenghuang County, to a 19-year prison term for accepting bribes, malpractice and organized crime.

The court also fined You 50,000 yuan (US$7,300) and ordered him to repay about 259,000 yuan and US$10,000 that he obtained illegally.

Also on Friday, the People's Court of Youxian County sentenced Hu Dongsheng, head of the road administration of the Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture of Tujia and Miao nationalities in Hunan, to 19 years in jail for taking bribes, malpractice and organized crime.

The People's Court of Jishou City sentenced Wang Weibo, senior official with the traffic bureau of the prefecture, to 15 years in jail.

Another 18 officials and contractors responsible for the collapse were also jailed.