Rocket scientist sentenced to life for embezzlement
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-03-08 13:58

One of China's top rocket scientists has been sentenced to life in prison for corruption and embezzling 160 million yuan (19.9 million dollars) of public funds.

Li Jianzhong, former head of the prestigious China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, was sentenced in a Beijing court on Tuesday, the Beijing News reported.

The academy's financial officer, Zhang Lingying, was also sentenced to 20 years for her part in helping Li misappropriate 120 million yuan of the funds, the paper said.

Li was convicted of seven counts of corruption, including two counts of misappropriating public funds valued at 120 million yuan and 40 million yuan respectively, it said.

It was not immediately clear if he would appeal the verdict, the report said.

During his trial in October 2005, the rocket scientist broke down crying as he confessed to the crimes, including corruption and bribe-taking, and pleaded with the court to treat him leniently, the paper said.

The academy is China's main rocket engineering institute and has been responsible for the design and production of the world-class Long March series of carrier rockets.

Born in 1937, Li became a vice head of the academy in 1991, when he was in charge of the Long March 3 project, the third generation of the Long March series, the Beijing News said.

He served as head of the academy from 1994-2000. He was placed under investigation in 2004.