'Brother Watch' pleads guilty to corruption (2)

English>>China Society

Editor's Pick

'Brother Watch' pleads guilty to corruption (2)

By Ma Lie (China Daily) 11:06, September 01, 2013

Email|Print|Comments

twitter

facebook

Sina Microblog

The then Shaanxi work safety chief Yang Dacai smiles as he inspects a highway crash that killed 36 people on Aug 26, 2012. The photo sparked public outrage and led to an investigation of his lifestyle.

Yang said the 5.04 million yuan came in the form of numerous money gifts from subordinates and schoolmates given to him during the holidays.

Yang's lawyer said that his client's confessions could allow the court to consider reducing Yang's prison sentence.

At present, the 5.04 million yuan in dispute and the 250,000 yuan received as a bribe are being kept by the prosecution.

Guo Jie, a professor with Northwest University of Politics and Law, said considering Yang's attitude in court, he could be sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison.

Yang's demise began on Aug 26, 2012.

As the director of the provincial work safety administration at the time, he was caught by a news photographer smiling at a serious traffic accident in which 36 people were killed and four were injured on a highway in Ansai, northern Shaanxi province. The photo was soon released on the Internet, sparking anger from netizens.

On Aug 30, 2012, the discipline and inspection committee of Shaanxi provincial Party committee announced that Yang was under investigation.

On Feb 22, 2013, Yang was removed from his office, expelled from the Party and detained for his alleged crimes.

Photographs later surfaced on the Internet of Yang wearing numerous luxury wristwatches in public, earning him the nickname "Brother Watch".