China's 'smiling' official jailed 14 years

Yang Dacai, former head of the Shaanxi provincial work safety administration, stands bribery trial at Xi'an City Intermediate People's Court, Aug 30, Northwest China's Shaanxi province. [Photo/Xinhua]

A local court in northwest China Thursday sentenced a senior work safety official, who left the nation aghast when he was filmed "smiling" at the scene of a fatal road accident, to 14 years in prison.

Yang Dacai, former head of Shaanxi work safety administration, was found guilty of taking bribes and holding a large amount of property which he cannot account for, the Xi'an Intermediate People's Court said in a verdict.

Yang was also fined 50,000 yuan (8,170 US dollars).