A local court in east China's Anhui Province Thursday sentenced two officials imprisonment for failing to prevent a fake milk powder scandal which led to 13 deaths and malnutrition of 189 babies in Anhui's Fuyang City.

Bai Qixiang and Li Tingjun, former officials with the administration of industry and commerce in Fuyang, were charged with dereliction of duty in the fatal accident, and given two-year-and-six-month and two-year jail terms respectively by the People's Court of Yingquan District in Fuyang City at the first trial.

Last year when Bai and Li received complaint from a resident whose daughter had died from fake milk powder, the two officials did not make further investigations or hand the case over to judicial departments but made false reports and hid the fact of the fatal accident, according to the court.
 
(Xinhua News Agency August 13, 2004)