Society
Gang leaders get death penalty, jail terms
By Wang Huazhong (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-30 07:28
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Courts also sentence policemen, officials for accepting mob bribes
CHONGQING: Three local courts yesterday handed out sentences ranging from the death penalty to several years in prison to four gang leaders found guilty of operating three separate mafia-style mobs in the city.
The No 2 Intermediate People's Court ordered death for 43-year-old Chen Zhiyi and life term for the 45-year-old Deng Yuping yesterday.
The No 5 Intermediate People's Court convicted 51-year-old Li Qiang while 40-year-old Wang Xingqiang was found guilty by the No 1 Intermediate People's Court. They both received 20-year jail sentences.
The three courts also imposed fines ranging from 2.2 million yuan ($324,000) to 31.9 million yuan on the four gang leaders and ordered their illegal gains confiscated.
In addition, the three courts also convicted 54 gang members for multiple crimes.
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"We've made dedicated efforts in verifying the mafia-style nature of alleged gangs, in identifying organizers and participators of the organization, and in judging crimes not related to mafia-style gangs," Hong Tao, the judge of the No 5 Intermediate People's Court who presided over Li's trial, said at a news conference organized by the publicity department of local Party committee yesterday.
Jiang Lin of the No 1 Intermediate People's Court, who had presided over the trial of Wang, said that the "proceedings were just and firm".
Li Qiang, who was also the former deputy of the Chongqing People's Congress, was fined 5.2 million yuan for seven crimes including operating illegal businesses and disturbing social order, according to the No 5 Intermediate People's Court.
"The seven crimes Li committed count for 37 years in jail, but the court sentenced him to 20 years in prison, the maximum term of limited imprisonment according to Chinese law," judge Hong said.
Li's defense attorney, who had said earlier that the evidence provided by the procuratorate did not prove that Li had organized a mafia-style gang, refused to comment on the verdict.
Li did not ask for a re-trial.
The Chongqing No 2 Intermediate People's Court yesterday also fined Chen Zhiyi and Deng Yuping 30.61 million yuan and 31.9 million yuan, respectively.
Chen's lawyer, Liu Xiangshun, from the local Xiangshun Law Firm, called the punishment "extreme".
"The sentence is extreme and the fine is immense," Liu told China Daily.
"What's more, requests by 19 defendants to examine their wounds after the police tortured them for confessions, were not considered by the court," he said.
Chen has decided to appeal, Liu said.
Wang Xingqiang was fined 2.2 million yuan for crimes including abetting prostitution, racketeering and intentional injury to others.
"The four rich gang bosses face different consequences, from which I can tell that the courts have prudently considered the cases, and that is good for the rule of law," local restaurant owner Li Xing told China Daily yesterday.
