CHONGQING: A Beijing lawyer for a suspected mafia-style gang boss was jailed in a high-profile trial on Friday, triggering strong reactions among lawyers.

Li Zhuang received a sentence of two and a half years for fabricating evidence and interfering with witness testimonies while defending Gong Gangmo, the Chongqing Jiangbei district court ruled.

The court said Li had instructed Gong to falsely claim that police tortured him for confessions, directed another lawyer to bribe police and incited Gong's wife and his employees to give false testimonies.