Liu Zhihua's Situation in Brief:
Liu Zhihua (刘志华), once the vice-mayor of Beijing with the distinguished task of overseeing the Olympic building construction, was sentenced to death in October 2008 for taking 7 million yuan ($1 million) in bribes in Olympic construction. On Oct. 28, 2008, Liu asked the Intermediate People's Court in Henshui for leniency. It is likely that after two years of good behavior, Liu's sentence will be commuted to life in prison.
Born:
April 1949 in the city of Panjin, in north China's Liaoning Province.
Early Career:
Once a coal miner, Liu joined the Communist Party of China in 1984. He received a bachelor's degree in labor economics from Beijing Economics College. He then served as Vice-Head for the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, then director of the Labor Bureau for the city of Beijing. He was promoted to Secretary-General for the People's Government of Beijing.
Promotion to Beijing Vice Mayor:
Liu was elected Vice Mayor of Beijing in 1999 overseeing urban development in the capital city. In May 2003, Liu worked to set up an emergency Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) hospital in Xiaotangshan, a town outside the capital during the height of the SARS outbreak in China. From 1999-2006, he also managed the Zhongguancun Science Park in Beijing.
Role in Olympics:
As Vice Mayor of Bejing, Liu also headed the office that oversaw $40 billion that was spent on Olympics-related building and traffic projects.
Corruption Allegations:
In June 2006, in a shocking move following a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, Liu was fired and arrested on suspicions of corruption and his "decadent lifestyle". His arrest is said to have nothing to do with Olympic projects, but because he took bribes, made illegal loans and manipulated contract awards when he directed the science park. He was also accused of helping one of his mistresses profit off construction projects. The Hong Kong China News Agency also reported that another mistresses exposed him by sending party officials and the media a tape of them having sex.
Trial and Sentencing:
Liu's trial began Oct. 14, 2008. He was found guilty of taking bribes and sentenced to death four days later by the Intermediate People’s Court in Hengshui, just outside of Beijing. Liu's lawyer has said that the verdict did not mention Olympic construction projects. It was reported that Liu wept three times during the trial, which was attended by his wife and son.
Likely Commutation:
While his sentence was death, it's unlikely to happen as the sentencing was also suspended for two years, which means that after two years of good behavior, Liu's punishment will most likely be commuted to life in prison. But that didn't stop Liu from giving the court a written appeal a week later asking for leniency due to his contributions to the Olympic Games.
He also appealed an order to confiscate 200,000 yuan in assets and his apartment, saying those were legally obtained. Liu's lawyer said that the former politician spends his time in jail reading history books and Buddhist text and writing his novel.