Officials suspended after man's suicide attempt

ZHENGZHOU - Several transport officials in Central China's Henan province were sacked or suspended from their posts after a female truck owner attempted suicide in protest against excessive fines.

The city government of Yongcheng said on Wednesday that the head and a deputy head of its traffic and transportation bureau had been suspended.

Several lower-rank road officials were also either dismissed or suspended, the government added.

The city and provincial authorities are still investigating the case in which Liu Wenli drank pesticide in a suicide attempt on November 14 during a standoff with road officials over repetitive fines.

The officials stopped Liu's truck and were going to fine her for overloading, despite her claiming she had already paid an annual and a monthly "fee" of 3,000 yuan (about 489 U.S. dollars) respectively, which should have meant she did not have to pay other charges, according to Liu's brother.

Her brother also said the law enforcement officials were indifferent to Liu's suicide attempt as some drove away instead of taking her to hospital.

Liu was taken to hospital by ambulance. She was discharged on November 29.

The case sparked outcry among netizens after it was first reported by China Central Television on Saturday. Many criticized the number of fees and fines on roads and urged for reforms in road management systems.

Overloading is common among Chinese cargo transport drivers due to their small revenues. Overloaded vehicles, however, are allowed to travel on roads in some places after drivers pay fines.