China child research centre ex-head jailed for graft

BEIJING, Jan 11 (Reuters) The former head of the China National Children's Centre has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for embezzlement and taking bribes, Xinhua news agency said today.

Zhao Shunyi, 51, was convicted by the Beijing No 1 Intermediate People's Court of taking bribes worth 230,000 yuan (29,500 dollars) and embezzling 820,000 yuan in public funds from October 2000 to April 2005.

China is in the middle of a crackdown on official corruption, which Communist Party officials admit is so widespread it could threaten the party's mandate to rule.

''Zhao had tarnished the image of public servants and has seriously impaired national interest,'' Xinhua said, adding he would appeal against his conviction.

It did not say when he was convicted.

Zhao was appointed chief director of the centre, which is part research institute and part education overseer and funded by the State Council under the motto of ''Everything for Children'', in 1999.

Zhao was implicated in April last year in a graft investigation of Jin Hong, the former chief accountant and director of the centre's finance department.

Jin was convicted of embezzling 290,000 yuan of public funds and jailed for 12 years last year.

REUTERS