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Two more arrested in baby milk powder scandal

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-18 09:44

SHIJIAZHUANG -- The number of arrests connected to China's tainted baby milk powder scandal has risen to six with the apprehension of two more suspects in the northern city of Shijiazhuang.

Two villagers were charged with selling the chemical melamine and adding it to milk sold to the Sanlu Group based in the Hebei provincial capital Shijiazhuang.

Special coverage: Tainted Formula Milk Scandal Related readings:  Poison milk kills 3rd kid, infects more  Milk powder products of 22 brands off shelves  Two firms confirmed exporter in baby milk scare  6,244 infants sickened by tainted milk, 3 dead

The dairy giant was the first company exposed in the tainted milk powder scandal that had sickened more than 6,200 infants to date, including three fatally, Shi Guizhong, a Hebei Provincial Public Security Department spokesman said at a press conference on Wednesday.

The sickened infants had developed kidney stones after drinking Sanlu's tainted baby formula. Melamine was added to the milk as it was believed to have helped to increase protein content.

The two men arrested were identified as a 52-year-old resident surnamed Hu from Yangjiazhai Village, Beizheng Township in Shijiazhuang's Yuanshi County, and a 58-year-old surnamed Bian from Chengdongqiaoxi Village, Dahe Township in Shijiazhuang's Luquan City, Shi said.

Hu, who owns a dairy farm in his village, confessed he sold 80 kg of melamine to a manager surnamed Zhao at a cattle company in Dahe Township in April.

Both had sold milk to Sanlu, therefore, they got to know each other, Shi said, adding Zhao had been arrested.

Bian, a veterinarian and a deputy factory director of Zhao's company, confessed he added the chemical to milk sold to Sanlu.

Police also arrested a 41-year-old surnamed Su, an owner of a private food additive shop in Luancheng County in Shijiazhuang, accusing him of selling melamine to Hu and other milk dealers, Shi said.

Among the arrested, two others were brothers surnamed Geng in Shijiazhuang's Zhengding County. They told police they had been selling 3 tons of contaminated milk daily since the end of last year.

The elder Geng said they added the chemical to the milk to make it appear to contain more protein. He added they had suffered losses after their milk had been rejected several times by Sanlu Group for failing to meet quality standards.

Sanlu, which is 43 percent owned by New Zealand dairy company Fonterra, was ordered to halt production.

Currently, police were also questioning 22 others, including Tian Wenhua, the sacked board chairwoman and general manager of Sanlu, Shi said.