CHINA: DEATH PENALTY OF GANG LEADER UPHELD IN LARGEST MAFIA CASE IN HAINAN PROVINCE

A court in south China's Hainan Province on 11 March 2020 upheld the death penalty of a 200-member gang leader in the largest mafia case since the founding of the province.
The Higher People's Court of Hainan Province rejected the appeal filed by Huang Hongfa and upheld his death penalty handed down by a lower-level court as he was convicted of 17 crimes, including organizing a mafia gang and intentional assault.
Other key members — Huang Hongming, Huang Yingxiang and Huang Hongjin — received sentences ranging from the death penalty with a two-year reprieve to 25 years in jail.
Two people were killed and more than 20 injured by the ring over the past 30 years, according to the court.
The court said the gang had recruited members for its underground casinos and illegal mining, and also offered illegal gains to local officials, who later served as their umbrella.
Zhang Guangqiong, vice president of the court, said the case was the largest of the province in terms of the number of members, the existing duration of the gang, as well as the value of illegal gains.
A total of 196 people were found involved in the gang. Police have sealed involved assets worth up to 2.5 billion yuan (US$360 million), which will be handled by a special task force team in a separate case.