China police officers jailed for juvenile death in custody

XI'AN, Nov. 24 -- Four police officers were given jail terms at a northwest China court Tuesday for the death of a 19-year-old student in custody in March, local authorities said.

They were involved in torturing Xu Gengrong, a high school student from Danfeng County, Shaanxi Province to death on March 8, the court said. Xu was under detention for suspected murder of a schoolgirl.

Yan Yaofeng, former head of the Public Security Bureau of Danfeng County, was sentenced to two years in jail for the crime of power abuse, the People's Court of Shangnan County said on its website.

Zhao Shuo, political instructor of the bureau's criminal police squad, and policeman Jia Yangang were given jail terms of two and half years and one and half years respectively for extorting confessions by torture.

Li Hongwei, a policeman of the Public Security Bureau of Shangluo City, was sentenced to one year in jail with a one year reprieve for the same crime as Zhao, the court said.

Wang Qingbao, a former discipline chief of the county police bureau, was accused of dereliction of duty but was exempted from a criminal penalty.

Xu died in hospital half an hour after suddenly falling ill while in custody. Police said he had "suddenly shown symptoms, with his face turning yellow, and a weak pulse and dribbling of the mouth."

Police said Xu, who had been detained since Feb. 28, confessed to the murder.

All the five officers were removed from posts after Xu's death.