CHINESE COURT SENTENCES 11 TO DEATH

a central Chinese court sentenced 11 people to death for their involvement in a range of gangster activities involving homicide and drug trading, state media reported. Four of the death sentences handed down by the Loudi City Intermediate Court in Hunan province were suspended for two years, said the Beijing Times. Another seven people belonging to the 97-strong criminal gang were given life sentences. The gang was convicted for robbery, illegal possession of guns, drug trading, gambling, extortion and blackmailing activities and had bullied local residents with violent attacks. The gang committed one homicide and caused bodily harm to 18 people, five of whom became seriously disabled. The paper said the gang had escaped prosecution previously by gaining protection from local police. It did not mention whether the local police had been prosecuted.