Shanghai official sentenced for corruption related to apartment fire

A Shanghai district official was sentenced to 16 years in prison for corruption and abuse of authority related to a deadly apartment building fire in 2010, AP reported, citing state media. Gao Weizhong, the former director of the Construction and Transport Committee of Shanghai Jing’an District, was convicted of illegally granting a renovation contract to a firm which in turn sub-contracted the job to an unqualified outfit. Welding sparks from the renovation effort set nylon and bamboo scaffolding on fire, eventually leading to 58 deaths and 71 injuries. A total of 29 people have so far been disciplined in relation to the incident, including the city’s vice mayor Shen Jun. State media reported that at least 24 others are still awaiting trial.