---
title: "Released in 9 Years? Sanlu's Former Chairman Granted Three Commutations, Life Sentence Reduced to Less Than 16 Years"
description: "The article reviews the case of Tian Wenhua, former chairman of Sanlu Group, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the melamine scandal in 2009 but has since received three commutations, reducing her sentence to 16 years. It highlights the parallels with the recent vaccine scandal and details the legal basis for each commutation."
author: "New Distribution"
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published: "2018-08-01"
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# Released in 9 Years? Sanlu's Former Chairman Granted Three Commutations, Life Sentence Reduced to Less Than 16 Years

> The article reviews the case of Tian Wenhua, former chairman of Sanlu Group, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the melamine scandal in 2009 but has since received three commutations, reducing her sentence to 16 years. It highlights the parallels with the recent vaccine scandal and details the legal basis for each commutation.

**Click to read the original article for details**
Recently, the exposure of the "fake vaccine incident" has drawn nationwide attention, with public anger directed at Changsheng Bio-tech and its leadership. On July 23, Changsheng Bio-tech's chairman Gao Junfang and four senior executives were taken to public security organs for legal review. It took Gao Junfang 16 years to go from an annual salary of 60,000 yuan to a personal fortune of 6.7 billion yuan, but it took only 7 days for her to become a target of public criticism.
**History often repeats itself. This scene inevitably reminds one of the "melamine incident" 10 years ago.** Ten years ago, Tian Wenhua, the "milk powder queen," similarly rose from an entry-level position to become the chairman of a listed company, reaching the pinnacle of her career; she also fell from grace and was imprisoned at the age of 60 due to a major public safety incident.
Perhaps because recent reports frequently compare the melamine incident with the vaccine incident, **Tian Wenhua, who is so similar to Gao Junfang, has been remembered. Consequently, media reporters conducted a search and discovered that Tian Wenhua received three commutations in 2011, 2014, and 2016, reducing her life sentence to 16 years in prison.**
Review: Sentenced to Life Imprisonment
Let's first review the situation at that time.
Tian Wenhua was born in 1942 and graduated from Zhangjiakou Agricultural College with a degree in veterinary medicine. In 1968, she was assigned to work at the then Shijiazhuang Milk Factory (the predecessor of Sanlu Group). From then on, Tian Wenhua started from the most basic tasks, such as feeding and delivering calves, until she was promoted to head the enterprise in 1987.
In 1993, Sanlu conquered the challenge of "infant formula with humanized milk powder," and the company subsequently became the national champion in milk powder sales, maintaining this position for 15 consecutive years. Tian Wenhua was also constantly surrounded by various honors and enjoyed special government allowances from the State Council.
If not for the melamine incident, Tian Wenhua's life would have been spent in honor and success, as she had built such a large enterprise, paid so much tax, and provided employment for so many dairy farmers and workers.
However, at the age of 66, she stood trial for producing milk powder containing melamine.
In September 2008, an investigation team dispatched by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine confirmed that "infant formula contaminated with melamine could cause urinary system stones in infants and young children." At the same time, the Shijiazhuang municipal government announced that the "problem milk powder" produced by Sanlu Group was caused by criminals adding melamine to raw milk during the procurement process to meet standards.
Almost overnight, Tian Wenhua became China's "poison milk queen," referred to by the industry as "the sinner of China's dairy industry."
At the trial, Tian Wenhua shed tears in court and admitted that the allegations were "true." She said: "I feel heartbroken and devastated. I never imagined, nor did I want to see, the Sanlu incident happen. I am willing to accept all legal punishment."
But such regret and tears could not save the lives of the infants. According to data from the former Ministry of Health, a total of 296,000 infants nationwide were diagnosed with kidney stones, and among the 11 deceased infants, it could not be ruled out that 6 were related to the consumption of problem milk powder.
**In 2009, the Shijiazhuang Intermediate People's Court made a first-instance judgment on several defendants in the case, sentencing Chairman Tian Wenhua to life imprisonment.**
The impact of melamine was enormous. The investigation of Tian Wenhua's enterprise was just the tip of the iceberg; it was later discovered that the entire industry commonly added melamine. Consequently, the industry entered a period of being spurned by consumers and ordered by the government to undergo serious rectification. Credibility was lost, sales plummeted, and there was widespread distress.
Present: Three Commutations, Life Sentence Reduced to 16 Years
According to media reports, Tian Wenhua, former chairman of Sanlu, received three commutations. Journalists checked the China Judgments Online website and confirmed that this was true.
First Commutation: In 2011, Life Sentence Commuted to 19 Years
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The (2011) Ji Xing Zhi Zi No. 1379 ruling shows that the criminal Tian Wenhua is currently serving her sentence in Hebei Women's Prison.
The Shijiazhuang Intermediate People's Court of Hebei Province made a criminal judgment on January 21, 2009, under (2008) Shi Xing Chu Zi No. 351, finding the defendant Tian Wenhua guilty of the crime of producing and selling fake and substandard products, and sentencing her to life imprisonment with deprivation of political rights for life. The court upheld the judgment on March 15, 2009, under (2009) Ji Xing Er Zhong Zi No. 11 criminal ruling. After sentencing, she was handed over for execution.
The executing organ, Hebei Women's Prison, submitted a commutation recommendation on June 13, 2011. The Hebei Higher People's Court filed the case on October 18, 2011, and formed a collegiate bench for trial in accordance with the law.
The executing organ stated that **during her imprisonment, the criminal admitted guilt and obeyed the law, accepted education and reform, observed prison rules and discipline, and actively participated in "three courses" study and productive labor. She received rewards: three commendations for merit, and was rated as a prison-level reform activist in 2010. She has shown signs of repentance.**
After trial, it was verified that the performance of the criminal as stated by the executing organ was true, as confirmed by witness testimonies, criminal reward and punishment approval forms, and annual evaluation forms.
The Hebei Higher Court held that the criminal Tian Wenhua had shown signs of repentance during her imprisonment and could be granted a commutation. In accordance with Articles 78, 80, Paragraph 2 of Article 57, and Article 58 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China, and Article 6 of the Supreme People's Court's "Provisions on Several Issues Concerning the Specific Application of Law in Handling Commutation and Parole Cases," the ruling is as follows: **The punishment of the criminal Tian Wenhua is commuted to fixed-term imprisonment of 19 years, with deprivation of political rights changed to 6 years (the term of imprisonment ends on November 3, 2030).**
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Second Commutation: In 2014, Sentence Reduced by One Year and Nine Months
According to the (2014) Shi Xing Zhi Zi No. 01119 ruling, the criminal Tian Wenhua's sentence was reduced by one year and nine months, with the deprivation of political rights for six years unchanged.
At that time, Hebei Women's Prison issued a statement in response to media reports, saying that the commutation was carried out in accordance with laws and regulations.
"The prison stated that since April 2, 2009, the criminal Tian Wenhua has been serving her sentence in Hebei Women's Prison. During her imprisonment, she has been able to admit guilt and obey the law, observe prison rules and discipline, actively participate in study and labor reform, and has received three commendations for merit, was rated as a prison-level reform activist in 2010, and has indeed shown signs of repentance. In November 2011, the Hebei Higher People's Court ruled to commute her sentence from life imprisonment to 19 years in prison, with deprivation of political rights changed to 6 years. **After the commutation, Tian Wenhua, due to her good performance in reform, successively received multiple commendations for merit and other rewards, and had no violations of discipline. In May 2014, the Shijiazhuang Intermediate People's Court ruled to reduce her sentence by 1 year and 9 months.**"
Third Commutation: In 2016, Sentence Reduced by One and a Half Years
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At the end of 2016, China Judgments Online published the (2016) Ji 01 Xing Geng No. 3895 ruling, which showed that the criminal Tian Wenhua, female, born on October 1, 1942, in Zhengding County, Hebei Province, Han ethnicity, university education, is currently serving her sentence in Hebei Women's Prison.
The executing organ, Hebei Women's Prison, submitted a commutation recommendation on July 18, 2016, to the court for trial. The court filed the case on November 1, 2016, and formed a collegiate bench in accordance with the law. A public hearing was held on November 14, 2016, with prosecutors Zhang Jie and Chen Shanshan appointed by the Shijiazhuang Jizhongnan District People's Procuratorate appearing in court to perform their duties, and prison officers Xu Jian and Wang Ping appointed by the executing organ appearing in court to perform their duties. The criminal Tian Wenhua attended the hearing. The trial has now concluded.
The executing organ, Hebei Women's Prison, stated that since her imprisonment, the criminal Tian Wenhua has been able to admit guilt and repent, seriously abide by laws, regulations, and prison rules, accept education and reform; actively participate in the study of ideology, culture, and technology, and successfully complete labor tasks. **Her performance in reform has been outstanding, with 2 commendations for merit and 5 commendations for praise, and she was rated as a prison reform activist in 2014 and 2015.**
After trial, it was verified that the performance of the criminal Tian Wenhua during her imprisonment was confirmed by evidence provided by Hebei Women's Prison, including annual evaluation forms, reward and punishment approval forms, reports on her reform performance, witness testimonies, and the in-court testimonies of prison officers Liu Yanqiao, Zhao Cong, and prisoners Yi Xiaoping and Hua Xiaofen.
The Shijiazhuang Jizhongnan District People's Procuratorate had no objection to the commutation of the criminal Tian Wenhua.
Finally, the court ruled: **The criminal Tian Wenhua's sentence is reduced by one year and six months, with the deprivation of political rights for six years unchanged. The term of imprisonment runs from November 4, 2011, to August 3, 2027.**
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Source: New Food Review
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