Zhu Chuanfeng

Zhu Chuanfeng was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve in China for selling gutter oil, an illegal and poisonous food and cooking oil. Moreover, Zhu's brothers Zhu Chuanqing (朱传清) and Zhu Chuanbo (朱传波) were sentenced to life in prison. Seven others involved in the case (Du Hengqiang, Du Hengcai, Zhu Hongtao, Jiang Weidong, Zhu Chuanguo, Liu Xingshan, and Liu Hengliang) were given prison terms and fined as well.

Background In 2001, the three brothers Zhu Chuanfeng, Zhu Chuanqing, and Zhu Chuanbo invested in an oil plant under the pretense of selling animal oil.

The court held through a trial that Zhu Chuanfeng, Zhu Chuanqing, Zhu Chuanbo, Du Hengqiang, Du Hengcai, Zhu Hongtao, Jiang Weidong, Zhu Chuanguo, Liu Xingshan, and Liu Hengliang mixed toxic and harmful non-food raw materials into the food produced and sold, and the amount was extremely large. In violation of the regulations on the administration of special VAT invoices, developed companies allowed others to falsely issue special VAT invoices for themselves to offset taxes, and the amount was huge.

According to the law, Zhu Chuanfeng was convicted of producing and selling toxic and harmful food, sentenced to death, suspended for two years, deprived of political rights for life, and had all his personal property confiscated.

Zhu Chuanqing and Zhu Chuanbo were convicted of producing and selling toxic and harmful food, sentenced to life imprisonment, deprived of political rights for life, and had all their personal property confiscated. They were also convicted of falsely issuing special invoices for value-added tax.

The remaining seven Du Hengqiang, Du Hengcai, Zhu Hongtao, Jiang Weidong, Zhu Chuanguo, Liu Xingshan, and Liu Hengliang were given up 5 to 15 years in prison and fined up to 2 million each.

The Zhu brothers' case came amid severe crackdowns on scandals following increased food safety laws in China since 2009. Selling gutter oil was a black market trade that was a chronic problem forming a multi-billion yuan business.