The former general manager of the Guangdong Poverty Relief and Economic Development Company was sentenced to death Tuesday for corruption, embezzlement of public funds and dereliction of duty.

Xue Changchun, also the former general manager of Guangdong Blue Sky Gold Card distribution center, was convicted in Guangzhou Intermediate Court of embezzling 10.98 million yuan (US$1.32 million), misappropriating 3.13 million yuan (US$378,170) in public funds, and causing losses of 7.5 million yuan (US$906,158) for the state-owned company during his tenure as the poverty relief manager.

Among the huge sum of money, more than eight million was specifically for poverty relief, the court was told.

Xue, 51, claimed the judgment was "against the facts and law."

"Who paid the cost when the Blue Sky Gold Card Company raised more than 58 million yuan (US$7 million) for the province and city's poverty relief office," he asked.

Xue said he would appeal.

(Shenzhen Daily December 24, 2004)