China rocket man jailed for life
BBC News, 09 March 2006
A key figure in China's successful space programme, Li Jianzhong, has been jailed for life for corruption and embezzlement, a state newspaper said.
Li, former head of China's launch vehicle maker CALT, was found guilty by a Beijing court of embezzling $20m, according to the Beijing News.
A colleague, Zhang Lingying, was sentenced to 20 years over the case.
CALT builds China's Long March rockets, which powered the manned Shenzhou V and VI craft into space.
Investigations into Mr Li started soon after the Shenzhou V launch in 2003.
Mr Li was accused of taking bribes during his time as president of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), between 1994 and 2000.
It was not clear whether he would appeal against the verdict.
He won plaudits for his contribution to the Long March rockets, which have sent various satellites and the Shenzhou V - China's first manned spaceship - into orbit.
copyright BBC MMVI
(((Until I saw the stately Latinate majesty of the BBC, I didn't even realize this year WAS "MMVI.")))
