It was reported by Xinhua News Agency that fifty members...

It was reported by Xinhua News Agency that fifty members of three criminal rings were sentenced to death or various prison terms by the No. 1 Intermediate People's Court of Chongqing municipality, southwest China, at the case's first trial. It was not reported how many, out of the fifty, had been given death sentences. According to the court, Zeng Lingwen, Yang Tianming and Chen Weiqiang formed three criminal groups between 1997 and 2001 in Yongchuan City. The groups were found guilty of maiming, abduction, gang war, extortion, illegal holding and trading of firearms and ammunition, gambling and other criminal acts. Yang was sentenced to death and Zeng was sentenced to 18 years of imprisonment. Chen remained at large.