29 Dec 2008

Four more go on trial over tainted milk

6:46 pm on 29 December 2008

Four people have gone on trial in north China in connection with the country's tainted-milk scandal, bringing the number before the courts to 10.

State media says six people earlier went on trial on charges of producing, selling or adding protein powder that contained the toxic industrial compound melamine to raw milk.

After covering up the problem for several months, the Sanlu dairy group admitted it had sold melamine-tainted milk powder, causing kidney stones and other complications that killed at least six children.

The scandal caused Sanlu, part owned by New Zealand's Fonterra, to halt production and subsequently file for bankruptcy.

Tian Wenhua, Sanlu's former general manager and the chair of its board, goes on trial later this week.