Daily Lessons from Life 15 July 2009

"July 15, 2009, 12.15 pm (Singapore time) Ex-Sinopec chairman gets suspended death sentence

BEIJING - The former chairman of China's second-largest oil company, Sinopec, was convicted on Wednesday of corruption and taking bribes and received a suspended death sentence, state TV reported.

Chen Tonghai was convicted of illegally receiving 190 million yuan (US$28 million), China Central Television said on its website. He resigned abruptly as Sinopec chairman in June 2007 and was later expelled from the ruling Communist Party.

Chen joins a string of high-level Chinese officials and leaders of state industry who have been convicted of corruption. Chinese leaders see simmering public anger over official abuses as a threat to communist rule and have launched repeated crackdowns.

Chen was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve by the No 2 Beijing Intermediate People's Court, CCTV said. Such sentences usually are commuted to life in prison if the convict is deemed to have repented.


The government has released no details of Chen's offences and the report on Wednesday gave no additional information.

Sinopec, also known as China Petroleum & Chemical Co, is Asia's biggest oil refiner by volume and China's second-biggest oil company after China National Petroleum Corp.


Hong Kong newspapers reported earlier that Chen's case might have been a factor in the surprise resignation of China's then-finance minister, Jin Renqing, in August 2007. One report said Jin introduced Chen to a woman who became Chen's mistress. -- AP"

It is good that able and bright people who had gone astray are brought to justice and made to realize their follies. It is, at the same time, sad that they could have achieved much benefits and good for the majority of people whom they served had they channeled their energy and brilliance to a good cause! Such is the constant struggle for those who want to do good and those who want to just 'enjoy' life with the status and power they had earned themselves!

Lessons for me are:

1. you can run but you can never hide from the truth! If what you do with your brilliance and intelligence is only for your own selfish gain and at the expense of equality and justice for all, it will catch up with you and BITE you!;

2. the only insurance or guarantee of leading a good and respectful life is to understand that the only reason to be a leader is to create more benefits and good for the majority of people who were less fortunate or not in your position to effect changes. Once you have this ethical ground covered firmly, your behaviors and actions will most likely create good outcome for the people and yourself on a sustainable basis;

3. we are not worry about the bright and intelligent people. We are concerned about what they do with their talent! I am sure Mr. Chen is a brilliant guy who made it to the top in his own way and with the people who probably do or did admired his capability. It is always a pity when such talent went astray! Personally I believed we have to PUNISH these people heavier as it is important to let the other equally brilliant people who are wavering on: 'should I do it as it seems like a lot of fun and gave me a lot of money?' to TOTALLY recognize that IT IS NOT WORTH IT! The truth will always be told at the end!!

May the Chinese authority continue to fight the corruption in the country at the government and all levels. It has to be done and it has to be done consistently and continuously as long as there are still people who wanted to try their luck and forget about the ETHICS in the 7e Way of Leaders teaching!!