Detained China graft whistle blower compensated

BEIJING, July 24 (Reuters) A Chinese man held for 10 months after blowing the whistle on a corrupt drug and food safety head has received 24,000 yuan (3,200 dollars) in compensation, media reported today, two weeks after the official was executed.

Zhang Zhijian was detained after reporting on the Internet last year that the then food and drug watchdog chief Zheng Xiaoyu and drug registration department head had ''abnormal'' relations with a medical investment company, the Beijing News said.

''After nearly 10 months' false detention, Zhang Zhijian had finally proved his innocence,'' it said.

Zhang was released in April, weeks before the graft case against Zheng had come to light.

Zheng was sentenced to death for taking bribes and dereliction of duty and was executed earlier this month.

Analysts have said the unusually harsh sentence and prompt enforcement reflected pressure on Beijing amid a series of health scandals involving Chinese products ranging from seafood to toothpaste.

The detention of whistle blowers is not uncommon in China. Wu Lihong, an environmental activist who reported on pollution of China's third-largest lake, faces a charge of blackmail, which some say was trumped up by vengeful officials.

REUTERS SV RAI1015