Society

Gang leader sentenced to death with reprieve

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-02-11 20:55

CHONGQING: A mob boss was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve Thursday for organizing criminal gangs and prostitution rackets in southwest China's Chongqing City amid a large-scale crackdown on organized crimes.

Yue Ning, leader of a 31-member gang, used hotels he owned as havens for prostitutes and illegal drug users to yield huge profits between 1998 and 2009, said the verdict of the Chongqing No. 5 Intermediate People's Court.

The gang bribed government officials to seek protection and seriously disturbed social order by using violence to solve disputes, causing tension among the public, the court said.

Yue was also charged of deliberately destroying financial receipts and account files as well as possessing firearms.

All his properties were confiscated.

The other 30 members received jail terms ranging from one to 20 years.

None of the gang members chose to make an appeal when the court handed out their verdicts.

The verdicts came one day after the Chongqing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court sentenced 34 other gang members for violent crimes. The gang leader Gong Gangmo was given life imprisonment after being convicted on nine counts including running a gang, murder, illegal dealing in and transportation of guns and ammunition.

During the massive organized crime crackdown beginning in June last year, local authorities arrested 1,176 people and prosecuted 782 involved in the 78 criminal gangs.

A total of 87 officials were prosecuted after the crackdown, including 12 high-ranking officials.