Three local courts yesterday handed out sentences ranging from the death penalty to several years in prison to four gang leaders found guilty of operating three separate mafia-style mobs in Chongqing.

The No 2 Intermediate People's Court ordered death for 43-year-old Chen Zhiyi and life term for the 45-year-old Deng Yuping yesterday.

The No 5 Intermediate People's Court convicted 51-year-old Li Qiang while 40-year-old Wang Xingqiang was found guilty by the No 1 Intermediate People's Court. They both received 20-year jail sentences.

The three courts also imposed fines ranging from 2.2 million yuan ($324,000) to 31.9 million yuan on the four gang leaders and ordered their illegal gains confiscated.

In addition, the three courts also convicted 54 gang members for multiple crimes.

Five government officials and policemen were sentenced to between three and 11 years in jail for colluding with and accepting bribes from the mafia-style gangs.

"We've made dedicated efforts in verifying the mafia-style nature of alleged gangs, in identifying organizers and participators of the organization, and in judging crimes not related to mafia-style gangs," Hong Tao, the judge of the No 5 Intermediate People's Court who presided over Li's trial, said at a news conference organized by the publicity department of local Party committee yesterday.

Jiang Lin of the No 1 Intermediate People's Court, who had presided over the trial of Wang, said that the "proceedings were just and firm".