Beijing: China`s Supreme Court is encouraging judges across the country to issue heavier sentences, including the death penalty, for people convicted in food safety scandals.
The Supreme People`s Court said in a notice posted on its website on Friday that courts should impose longer jail sentences and larger fines on people found guilty of violating food safety regulations. It said death sentences should be given in cases where people died.
Chinese courts execute more people than the combined total of all other countries. The latest directive runs counter to recent efforts by China`s top court and legislature to reduce the use of the death penalty. But it also comes amid a campaign by the country`s leadership to clean up the food supply following a series of safety scandals.
Bureau Report
