Hubei court upholds death sentence for organized crime leader

The Hubei High People's Court upheld the death sentence handed down to a ringleader of a mafia-style organization on Wednesday after rejecting his appeal in a second trial.

Huang Dafa, a former village head and businessman in the province, was sentenced to death on 21 charges — including leading organized crimes, intentional injury, and fraud — by Huanggang Intermediate People's Court in Hubei in April 2026.

The high court said that the original ruling was based on clear facts and sufficient evidence, with accurate conviction, appropriate sentencing, and lawful procedures. It therefore dismissed Huang's appeal and kept the original verdict.

The death sentence will be submitted to the Supreme People's Court, China's top court, for review. In China, a death penalty can only be carried out with approval from the SPC.

Besides Huang, four other members of Huang's criminal group were given the death penalty with a two-year reprieve.

Public records show that Huang, 64, was named head of Jinggang village in Wuhan, capital of Hubei, in 1995. He became chairman of a local company engaged in various businesses, such as agricultural farming, construction, real estate development, and property management.

Later, he founded several other companies expanding his commercial sectors. Huang and his associates faced numerous accusations involving violent demolitions, unlawful appropriation of farmers' private land, and organizing mafia-style crimes. Huang was captured in 2023.