China ex-vice admiral jailed for life for graft
BEIJING, Dec 22 (Reuters) A Chinese vice admiral has been jailed for life on a charge of embezzlement, a Beijing-funded Hong Kong newspaper reported today, the most senior Chineese military officer to be jailed for corruption.
A Beijing military court convicted and sentenced Wang Shouye on December. 14, the Wen Wei Po newspaper said, quoting unidentified sources.
The daily, which frequently carries news leaks by the Chinese government, did not say how much money he embezzled.
Wang, 63, was sacked as navy deputy commander this year for bad morals, using his power and position to demand and accept bribes as well as seriously violating laws and discipline, the newspaper said, without elaborating.
A Hong Kong magazine reported earlier this year that Wang was given a suspended death sentence for embezzling 160 million yuan in military funds.
The cabinet spokesman's office had no immediate comment.
China's state media have not reported Wang's conviction.
Military sources with knowledge of the case told Reuters that one of Wang's many mistresses blew the whistle on him after he refused to give in to her demand for 3 million yuan She had borne him a child.
He also hired an assassin to try to kill her because she petitioned his superiors almost daily, the sources said.
REUTERS MS RK1023