Three village officials in Sichuan Province have been jailed for seven years each for taking bribes from earthquake victims applying for state subsidies.

A court in Santai County, Sichuan Province, said Zuo Duyuan, An Xinwu and Yi Deyin, respectively the village Party secretary, village committee chief and accountant of Jinya Village, pleaded guilty and were sentenced last Monday.

The three took 1,800 yuan (US$264) from four families in the village and demanded 26,900 yuan from 13 other families between September and November last year. The accountant had also demanded a 1,500 yuan bribe.

The officials hinted that state subsidies for house reconstruction were limited and those who gave money to them would be at an advantage.

When a lottery was held in March to distribute the subsidies, those who had not bribed the officials all failed. Villagers informed the county's anti-corruption bureau.

(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2009)