Cemetery supervisor gets prison over bribes
By Zhao Wen |
April 2, 2013, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AN official who was in charge of a nonprofit public cemetery in Qingpu District was sentenced to six years in prison for taking bribes from a company owner whom he allowed to build upscale tombs in place of lower-cost ones, a local court said yesterday.
Prosecutors said the cemetery was built for local villagers who needed low-cost tombs to relocate their ancestors because the ground where their ancestors were originally buried were to be redeveloped.
But the price of a tomb went up from 2,200 yuan (US$354) in 2003 to as much as 12,800 yuan in 2011, as the convicted official, Liu Degong, took 640,000 yuan from the company owner Zhang Fuyong, to whom he gave construction contracts.
Liu was put under investigation after Qingpu District prosecutors received a tip from the public in early 2012, alleging that Liu took advantage of his position and accepted bribes. Prosecutors found the 300,000 yuan down payment for Liu's house was paid by Zhang's wife, which they said proved bribery.
Liu had been director of the social insurance department of a town in Qingpu since 2004. He was in charge of social welfare work including funerals and interment.
Tomb prices rise
In 2004, the district expanded the Helingyuan Cemetery to 1.67 hectares and increased the number of tombs from 1,400 to over 5,000. The price of tombs was lifted from 2,200 yuan to a range of 3,000 yuan to 6,000 yuan.
Since the cemetery saw improvements, the villagers praised Liu's work and the price was still acceptable compared to for-profit cemeteries, the court heard.
In 2005, Zhang, who ran a stone company, decided to bribe Liu so he could build costly tombs.
Liu at first refused but in 2007 Liu agreed to let a 400,000 yuan construction contract to Zhang, prosecutors said.
In return, Zhang gave Liu 70,000 yuan in kickbacks and a red envelop containing cash every year.
The court heard Liu stopped building low-price tombs in the cemetery and began promoting fan-shaped tombs and upscale tombs priced from 6,800 yuan to 12,800 yuan. Liu expressed regret during the trial.
Prosecutors said the cemetery was built for local villagers who needed low-cost tombs to relocate their ancestors because the ground where their ancestors were originally buried were to be redeveloped.
But the price of a tomb went up from 2,200 yuan (US$354) in 2003 to as much as 12,800 yuan in 2011, as the convicted official, Liu Degong, took 640,000 yuan from the company owner Zhang Fuyong, to whom he gave construction contracts.
Liu was put under investigation after Qingpu District prosecutors received a tip from the public in early 2012, alleging that Liu took advantage of his position and accepted bribes. Prosecutors found the 300,000 yuan down payment for Liu's house was paid by Zhang's wife, which they said proved bribery.
Liu had been director of the social insurance department of a town in Qingpu since 2004. He was in charge of social welfare work including funerals and interment.
Tomb prices rise
In 2004, the district expanded the Helingyuan Cemetery to 1.67 hectares and increased the number of tombs from 1,400 to over 5,000. The price of tombs was lifted from 2,200 yuan to a range of 3,000 yuan to 6,000 yuan.
Since the cemetery saw improvements, the villagers praised Liu's work and the price was still acceptable compared to for-profit cemeteries, the court heard.
In 2005, Zhang, who ran a stone company, decided to bribe Liu so he could build costly tombs.
Liu at first refused but in 2007 Liu agreed to let a 400,000 yuan construction contract to Zhang, prosecutors said.
In return, Zhang gave Liu 70,000 yuan in kickbacks and a red envelop containing cash every year.
The court heard Liu stopped building low-price tombs in the cemetery and began promoting fan-shaped tombs and upscale tombs priced from 6,800 yuan to 12,800 yuan. Liu expressed regret during the trial.
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