Four accomplices involved in the Yang Xiuzhu conspiracy case were convicted in a first ruling at Hangzhou Intermediate People's Court on Tuesday.

They received sentences of three to 20 years' imprisonment for embezzlement and accepting bribes.

Yang, 58, the fugitive former vice director of the Construction Department of Zhejiang Province, was discovered to have taken bribes of 253.2 million yuan (US$30 million) before fleeing to the US on April 20 last year.

She embezzled 11 million yuan (US$1.32 million) in public funds from the Wenzhou Railway Real Estate Development Company in December 1996, when serving as vice mayor of Wenzhou and chairman of the company's board.

Gao Yunguang and Jin Jianlin, the firm's general manager and cashier, helped Yang obtain funds to pay off a bank loan for her younger brother using fraudulent invoicing.

Li Xiaoyan, once the accountant of the company, allegedly drew funds from banks 20 times between February and September 1997 although she knew the money had been embezzled by Yang.

Sha Shaohua, former deputy general manager of the company, had also handed the money over to Yang or her driver while knowing Yang's purpose.

Gao was confirmed as the principal with Jin, Li and Sha accessories in the case, said sources at the court.

Gao, who was also once a vice director of the Wenzhou Urban Planning Bureau, was charged with helping Yang embezzle more than 11 million yuan (US$1.32 million). He was sentenced to 20 years and had 180,000 yuan (US$21,600) worth of property confiscated.

(China Daily January 26, 2005)