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More gangsters to end up in court

By Wang Huazhong and Ma Wei (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-24 09:29

CHONGQING: Four more alleged mafia-style gangs will face prosecution, as the crackdown on gangs continues and the number of people who have been detained has now reached 2,900.

Chongqing No 1, 2 and 5 intermediate people's procuratorates last week filed more cases, accusing 105 members in four gangs of committing crimes including intentional injury, operating illegal gambling houses and loan sharking.

The gangs were led by Gong Gangmo, Chen Zhiyi, Wang Tianlun and Wang Xingqiang.

The anti-gang campaign, which started in June, has busted 61 alleged mafia-style gangs, Party secretary of Chongqing political and law committee, Liu Guanglei, said on Sunday.

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Chongqing Evening News revealed more information about the four suspected gangs on Monday:

The 34-member group of Gong Gangmo is known for violence and is accused of last year's gun showdown in the Aidingbao community. The gang traded, shipped and possessed 15 guns and 500 bullets and became wealthy by loan sharking.

The alleged 26-member gang of Chen Zhiyi is accused of 22 crimes resulting in three deaths and four injuries. Entrenched in classy hotels operating lucrative gambling businesses, the gang is a typical example of the latest trend of organized gangs being "fed by gambling and protecting businesses in return."

The alleged 43-member gang of 43-year-old Wang Tianlun was run by his family, which controlled, through violence and threats, the trading of live hogs in the Hechuan district and sales of livestock in the local High-tech Zone, Jiulongpo and Dadukou districts.

The alleged 23-member gang of Wang Xingqiang monopolized pork sales in certain districts and gradually penetrated multiple businesses including the transport of construction waste, river sand and gravel. The gang is the first to be accused of money laundering.

Chongqing police said the crackdown is a success.

The number of crime reports this year dropped 30 percent year-on-year and the public's security confidence rate has stood at more than 90 percent for months, police said.

"Businessmen must feel safer to compete in the real estate, transportation and entertainment markets, which are now freed from the mafia's grip," said Li Lai, 29, who just quit his sales job for a Chinese telecom company in Morocco and is looking for a venue to start his own restaurant.