Eight owners of bag-making factories in Gaobeidian City in north China's Hebei Province were given prison terms by a local court for not protecting their employees from benzene poisoning.

Among them, Ji Yaoming was sentenced to four years imprisonment and others to be jailed from six months to two years. They were also required to pay victims compensations.

Since the beginning of this year, several workers coming from central Henan Province were sent to hospitals because of benzene poisoning. So far, four have died and some others are receiving treatment in hospital.

The victims had suffered from the toxic chemical for working long hours in the factories without any protection.

(Xinhua News Agency July 26, 2002)