China executes two for tainted milk scandal

China yesterday executed two people for their role in the Sanlu milk scandal that killed at least six children -- one of them a broker who sold more than 900 tonnes of tainted milk -- much of it to the New Zealand joint venture.

Fonterra farmers held a 43 percent stake in Sanlu, though they have since written off their $201 million investment in the now-bankrupt Chinese company.

Nearly 300,000 children fell ill last year after drinking milk intentionally laced with melamine.

A total of 21 Sanlu executives and middlemen were tried and sentenced in January by a court in the northern city of Shijiazhuang for their involvement in the case. Three other former Sanlu executives were given between five years and 15 years in prison.

The official Xinhua news agency, citing a court statement, said Geng Jinping was convicted of producing and selling toxic food, after selling more than 900 tonnes of tainted milk.

It said a cattle farmer, Zhang Yujun was executed "for the crime of endangering public safety by dangerous means" -- he produced more than 770 tonnes of melamine-laced protein powder, of which he sold more than 600 tonnes, between July 2007 and August 2008.

The woman most widely blamed for the tragedy Sanlu's former general manager, Tian Wenhua, received a sentence of life in jail.

Tian pleaded guilty late last year to charges that did not carry the death sentence.

Xinhua said she had lodged an appeal, but that it had been turned down by the court.

Sanlu officials were aware of the melamine problem by early August 2008 but the public was not warned until mid-September as China strove to put on a perfect face for the Beijing Olympics.

Fonterra had three directors on the Sanlu board -- Bob Major, Mark Wilson and a Chinese national, Patrick Kwok -- and said it pushed for a full public recall of contaminated product from August 2 when it learned of the contamination. Melamine, which can cause kidney stones, is meant to be used in making plastics, fertilisers and even concrete. Its high nitrogen content allows protein levels to appear higher when it is added to milk or animal feed.