Man responsible for group lead poisoning at Chinese kindergarten sentenced to life imprisonment

First trial ruling from the Middle Court... In July last year, controversy arose over the ‘determination of abnormalities’ for 247 out of 251 students.

(Shanghai = Yonhap News) Correspondent Cha Byeong-seop = In relation to the mass lead poisoning incident at a kindergarten that occurred in China last year, the person responsible for ordering the addition of inedible paint to food was sentenced to life imprisonment.

According to Xinhua News Agency and the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 17th (local time), the Intermediate People's Court of Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, sentenced Mr. Li, the actual person in charge of the kindergarten, to life imprisonment for the crime of 'producing and selling toxic and harmful food' through the first trial ruling the day before.

Mr. Li was also sentenced to life-long deprivation of political rights and confiscation of 500,000 yuan (about 100 million won). Hong Kong media reported that Mr. Lee is a kindergarten owner and investor.

The kindergarten's 'executive director' Mr. Joo was sentenced to 15 years in prison and a fine of 300,000 yuan (approximately 60 million won), and the four kitchen employees who participated in the crime under their instructions were sentenced to 6 to 8 years in prison.

Previously, in July of last year, a controversy arose at a kindergarten in Tianshui City, Gansu Province, when 247 out of 251 students and 28 out of 34 faculty and staff were judged to be 'abnormal'.

At the time, problems surfaced as students complained of vomiting, dizziness, abdominal pain, hair loss, hypersensitivity, and discoloration of teeth.

As a result of the investigation, the director and others ordered the purchase of paint to bring out better colors in the school lunch photos used to promote student recruitment.

The kindergarten purchased inedible paint and mixed it with flour dough to make bread and provide it for school meals.

Although food coloring was cheaper, the kindergarten reportedly chose the problematic paint because the colors came out more vividly.

According to Chinese authorities, the normal blood lead concentration for children is below 100㎍/L, but in many children, the level reached 200-500㎍/L.

Lead poisoning can cause irreversible damage to the brain and central nervous system, and children can experience reduced cognition and attention, and growth retardation.