Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has caught and investigated all the people culpable in a coal mine blast that killed 83 in Fukang, the regional government said in a press conference on Tuesday.

Liu Xiaolong, former vice-mayor of Fukang and former deputy director of the city's production safety committee, allegedly took 130,000 yuan (US$16,050) of bribes and sought 160,000 yuan (US$20,000) of profits illegally in the coal business.

Liu was arrested on September 6 last year.

Luo Jinrong, former director of the city's economic and trade committee, allegedly took 20,000 yuan (some US$2,500) inbribes and was accused of dereliction of duty.

Six managers at the coal mine, including director Jiang Jinpeng, were arrested in July and August last year and accused of causing fatal production accidents. Six other managers, including deputy-director of the coal mine Sun Deyong allegedly were responsible for fatal production accidents.

Ma Mingcheng, head of the Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Changji,and Wang Yongzhu, deputy-director of the regional coal industry management department received administrative warning for the accident.

Li Chunsheng, chairman of the Hami Coal Group, and 42 managing staff of the group were accused of illegal share holding in the accident coal mine.

The illegal share holding cases and the former deputy mayor's corruption case have been transferred to the Ministry of Supervision and the regional Discipline Inspection Group, according to the regional government.

The accident occurred at Shenlong Coal Mine on July 11 last year, leaving 83 dead.

(Xinhua News Agency March 1, 2006)