2010-08-11 19:58

CHONGQING - Three people received death penalties Wednesday for committing gang-related crimes in Chongqing Municipality, amid the massive battle against mafia-style gangs in the mega-city of China's southwest.

The No.5 Intermediate People's Court of Chongqing sentenced Wang Ziqi to death after convicting her of organizing and leading a 26-strong criminal organization, forcing others into and organizing prostitution, illegal imprisonment and offering bribes, said a court statement.

Tao Minggu, a core member of the gang, was also sentenced to death by the court after being found guilty of participating in the gang, forcing others into and organizing prostitution, illegal imprisonment and rape, said the statement.

Wang and Tao were both deprived of their political rights for life and all their properties confiscated, it said.

Another gang member was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, while 23 others received sentences ranging from two years' imprisonment to life imprisonment, it said.

Four Chongqing policemen received jail terms ranging from 3.5 years to 15 years for taking bribes from the gang and providing protection to it in return.

The court found the gang coerced hundreds of women into prostitution over a decade.

The gang obtained illegal gains of more than 100 million yuan (about $14.8 million).

On the same day, the No.1 Intermediate People's Court of Chongqing sentenced Chen Jianming to death after convicting him of 10 crimes including organizing and leading a 9-strong criminal organization, murdering, kidnapping, intentionally injuring others, blackmail and other crimes.

Chen was also deprived of his political rights for life and was fined 1.1 million yuan.

The court found that Chen and his fellows shot dead a 26-year-old man, Hao Chuan, in Yubei District of Chongqing.

Eight members of the gang received jail terms ranging from 2.5 years to 19 years, said a statement from the court.