Society

Cross-border gang boss gets 18 yrs in S. China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-03-16 23:48

NANNING - The leader of an organized crime gang that operated across the China-Vietnam border was sentenced to 18 years in prison and fined 2.15 million yuan (314,921 U.S. dollars) Tuesday in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Huang Yongjiu and 24 gang members were convicted of organizing, leading or participating in a criminal gang, robbery, fraud, and illegally organizing and sending people across international borders, said a ruling issued by the court.

Huang and his gang posed as tour guides and took Chinese tourists to Vietnam. When the tourists arrived in Vietnam, the gang asked them to buy fake jewelry and other luxury items. If the victims refused, the gang would rob them or beat them up, said Li Shiqi, a police officer of the Dongxing Municipal Public Security Bureau.

A total of 91 victims had been identified in 44 criminal cases, from which Huang's gang made more than 6 million yuan from July 2007 to November 2008, said Huang Xiaoyong, vice chief of Dongxing Municipal People's Court.

The gang members were tried at Dongxing Municipal People's Court in Dongxing city. It is unknown whether the defendants will appeal.

Huang's brother, Huang Yonghua, who was sentenced to 16 years in jail, was also involved in the gang.

The other members received jail terms ranging from one to 16 years and all their criminal proceeds were confiscated.