85 convicted on telefraud charges in Beijing court

Eighty-five defendants, including 44 Taiwan residents, received sentences ranging from 21 months to 15 years in a Beijing court on Thursday for their involvement in a cross-border telecom fraud.

The defendants confessed in court and expressed regret. Twelve of the 85 convicted returned 460,000 yuan ($69,870) of ill-gotten assets.

Of the 44 defendants from Taiwan, two primary suspects charged with fraud were sentenced to serve jail terms of 15 years. Another 42 received sentences ranging from 21 months to 14 years, according to Beijing No 2 Intermediate People's Court.