Ex-Chief of Beijing Airport Sentenced to 12 Years for Corruption
The former top administrator of Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) has been sentenced to 12 years in prison by Chinese authorities for taking bribes and kickbacks in return for providing favorable contracts and jobs to airport vendors and others.
Former Beijing Airport Chief took $750K in Bribes
Zhang Zhizhong’s illegal activities reportedly took place between 1996 and 2009. China’s state media says the man took in nearly $750,000 over the years.
Beijing: Soon to be ‘World’s Busiest Airport’
According to the Washington Post, Zhang’s case was “one of a recent slew of dismissals and reports of graft investigations in China’s aviation industry, which is rife with opportunities for bribery and influence peddling.” Officials are also investigating other key state industries in an effort to root out corruption.
Harsher Sentence for Previous Airport Chief
Just two years ago, Chinese authorities carried out the harsher penalty given to Zhang’s predecessor at the airport when he was convicted of embezzling more than $10 million in public funds: that ex-airport head received the death penalty.
Asia’s Singapore Airlines Introduces New Low Cost Carrier
Beijing’s airport is the main international gateway to the Chinese capital and is the busiest airport in Asia in terms of passenger traffic and total traffic movements.
