China ends first trials of tycoon-led gang
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E-mail Xinhua, April 19, 2014
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| Liu Han, mafia-style gang leader, cries at the court. Most of the defendants confessed to and repented for their crimes and apologized to victims and their families, while Liu Han denied the charges, according to the court. [photo / cnhubei.com] |
The first trials of 36 members of an alleged mafia-style gang led by former mining tycoon Liu Han ended Saturday in central China's Hubei Province.
Liu Han, his brother Liu Wei and 34 other defendants were accused of crimes including organizing and leading a gang, intentional homicide and assault, illegal detention, blackmailing, illegal possession of guns and ammunition, and defrauding banks of loans, prosecutors said.
The presiding judge announced the conclusion of the first trials of Liu Han and another nine defendants after they made final statements.
Trials of the other 26 defendants ended on April 1, 2 and 14.
Trials of the ring members began on March 31.
According to the Xianning Intermediate People's Court, the 36 defendants were prosecuted in seven cases to make clear facts and protect the legal interests of the accused as they allegedly committed more than 50 crimes in 20 years.
Most of the defendants, including Liu Wei, confessed to and repented for their crimes and apologized to victims and their families, while Liu Han denied the charges, according to the court.
The verdict will be announced at a date yet to be decided.
Mafia Charges
Liu Han was board chairman of the Hanlong Group, the biggest private enterprise in Sichuan. He owned tens of subsidiary companies involved in electricity, energy, finance, mining, real estate and securities.
Prosecutors said the group led by Liu Han was massive in number of members with clear organizers, leaders and backbones. The group accumulate wealth by illegal means to support its activities and possessed a lot of guns and ammunition for violent illegal confrontation.
Through illegal activities and under the coverup and connivance of officials at state organs, the ring illegally gained control over and had a huge influence on Mianyang, Guanghan and Shifang cities and various local industries, severely damaging economic and social order, prosecutors said.
But Liu Han said he was "unaware (of the cases)," "irrelevant (to the activities" and "not organizing or leading criminal organizations."
Lawyers for another nine defendants argued on whether they committed crimes of participating the gang and whether leniency mitigation should be handed down.
The lawyer for Hanlong Group pleaded guilty of the company's financial frauds.
The court fully heard opinions of both sides.
Confessions
Prosecutors provided lots of evidence during the trials, witness's testimonies, written records, autopsy reports and bank accounts, accounting statements which were fully cross examined at the court.
Prosecutors also showed evidence that they did not force Liu Wei to confess through torture.
Most defendants confessed to their crimes and pleaded leniency.
"For the crimes I have committed, I will accept any judgement according to the law to make the dead rest in peace," said Liu Wei in his final statement.
Sun Changbing bowed deeply to the court and said he willingly confessed and repented crimes.
"I lost myself, made mistakes and now I have waken up to reality. I hope that while handing down punishment to me, the court could save, educate and help me and give a lenient penalty according to the law," he said.
The accused Min Jie submitted his written statement of repentance.
Other defendants including Liu Xuejun, Liu Zhongwei and Lyu Bin also admitted crimes.
Rights ensured
Legal rights of the defendants and 49 lawyers were guaranteed, the court said.
All the defendants appeared at the court without wearing handcuffs or prisoners' clothes.
Liu Han was offered deaf-aids and a cushion on the seat.
Liu made a self-defense statement for more than 140 minutes during the court debate.
His lawyer Zhang Qingsong said in court that the court investigation was gentle and fair and that the tolerance, gentleness and rationality of the presiding judge has won the lawyer's sincere respect.
About 6,200 persons including defendants' families, legislators, political advisors, journalists and representatives of the public observed the trials which lasted for 17 days.
Prior to the trials, prosecutors, defendants and defence lawyers exchanged opinions and reached consensus on some issues concerning the jurisdictions of the cases, withdrawal of parties of interests and the exclusion of illegally obtained evidence.
The accused fully defended themselves and the trials were held according to the law, said Wang Yisong, a local lawmaker who heard the trials. "I expect fair and just verdicts."
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