KEN LAY COUNTS HIS BLESSINGS:

China executes four accused of bank fraud (Reuters, 9/14/2004)

BEIJING - China executed four people, including employees of two of its Big Four state banks, for fraud totaling $15 million, the Xinhua state news agency said on Tuesday, amidst a high-profile campaign against financial crime.

The executions come after a string of arrests in white-collar crime as China prepares to sell shares in its big banks.

The latest cases involved China Construction Bank, due to raise up to $10 billion in an IPO next year, and Bank of China — which is moving towards an IPO worth up to $4 billion.

A day later, Martha Stewart figures jail is looking pretty good.