Former head of China's drug watchdog to go on trial this month

The corruption trial of Zheng Xiaoyu, former director of China's State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), has been set for around May 15.

The Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court will hold an open trial in mid-May, and the case is expected to conclude by the end of the month, according to a report in China Business News on Tuesday.

The newspaper quoted a well-informed source as saying prosecutors were charging Zheng with dereliction of duty, taking bribes and leading a dissolute life.

Zheng, who retired before the allegations and first came under investigation by the Communist Party of China's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection in December, was expelled from the Communist Party of China in March.

More than 30 other people, including many high-ranking officials such as Cao Wenzhuang, former director of the registration department of the SFDA, are involved in the case.

Zheng could apply to receive medical treatment on bail after the judgement of the court because he is a diabetes patient.

"Zheng's hair has turned grey completely," said the source. "When Zheng was told that his wife and son were arrested for involvement in corruption, he cried."

The sources said Zheng's wife, Liu Naixue, and his son, Zheng Hairong, were charged with taking bribes from pharmaceutical companies mainly in Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Another newspaper, 21st Century Business Herald, reported last month that the bribes allegedly taken by Zheng, including cash and gifts, were worth more than 5 million yuan (about 650,000 U.S. dollars).

Source: Xinhua