24 coal mine managers jailed after accidents killed 151 people

Twenty-four coal mine managers have received prison sentences of up to 11 years after being held accountable for two major flooding accidents last year that killed a total of 151 people.

Zeng Fanjin, former owner of the Daxing Coal Mine in south China's Guangdong Province, and manager of Dajingli Coal Co., Ltd, was given an 11-year prison sentence and a fine of one million yuan (128,000 U.S. dollars) for continuing to operate the mine without a production permit.

Zeng Yungao, former chairman of the board, was sentenced to ten years in prison and fined five million yuan (640,000 U.S. dollars) for his involvement and bribery, according to a verdict by the Xingning City People's Court on Wednesday.

A flood occurred in the Daxing mine on August 7 last year, which left 121 dead and one seriously injured.

Sixteen other members of the company also received jail terms ranging from 17 months to seven years with fines for some of them.

In another verdict, six former managers of the Ji'an Coal Mine in northeast China's Jilin Province, received prison sentences ranging from four years to seven years for negligence, according to the Jiaohe City People's Court.

A flooding happened on April 24 last year at the Ji'an Coal Mine, which left 30 miners dead.

Source: Xinhua