Society

Nine charges against former wrestling champion

By Liu Shanshan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-09-28 19:44

Zhang Jiaqiang (R) listens to court proceedings. [Photo/sina.com.cn]

A former national wrestling champion was charged with organizing Mafia-like gangs and other eight crimes in a Northeastern China city on Monday.

Zhang Jiaqiang, former winner of two national junior-level wrestling tournaments, was accused of robbery, racketeering, rape, scuffling and creating a disturbance after he allegedly organized a Mafia-like gang with some former convicts in his hometown of Songyuan city, Jilin province.

The police arrested Zhang and his gang in October last year and seized all their property.

Zhang will try to convince the court that there are significant doubts in the case against him.