Two men in connection with China tainted milk scandal have been sentenced to death on Thursday by a local court.

Zhang Yujun, who produced and sold melamine-laced "protein powder" in the China tainted milk scandal, was convicted of endangering public security and given capital punishment by the Shijiazhuang Intermediate People's Court, while the other man Geng Jinping was convicted of producing and selling toxic food.

The court had announced it would sentence 21 defendants implicated in the scandal Thursday afternoon. However, it said shortly before the court opened that nine of them would be sentenced at other courts.

The nine people were tried at the courts in Zhaoxian, Xingtang, Luquan and Wuji Counties, all under the jurisdiction of Shijiazhuang.

Among the 12 people who were convicted Thursday afternoon, two were given death penalty, one with suspended death, three jailed for life and the other six jailed between five years and 15 years.

Tian Wenhua, former board chairwoman of the Sanlu Group at the heart of the scandal, was convicted of manufacturing and selling fake or substandard products and sentenced to life in prison. Three other former executives of Sanlu were jailed 5-15 years.

The Ministry of Health said it was likely the tainted milk scandal with Sanlu Group at its center killed at least six babies. Another 296,000 infants suffered kidney stones and other urinary problems.

Apart from the 21 defendants who have been sentenced or tried, Chinese police have so far arrested 39 suspects over the tainted milk powder scandal, said Zhang Deli, chief procurator of the Hebei Provincial People's Procuratorate. But it is unclear when they would go on trial.

(Xinhua News Agency January 22, 2009)