A written application from Li calling for eight witnesses including Gong and his assistant Ma Xiaojun, who is also detained, was denied by the court, which said the witnesses were not willing to attend court.

Another application from Li asking for a review of surveillance footage of the three meetings Li had with Gong was also denied because the Jiangbei detention center said recording machines were not used during their conversations.

"I believe you will have compassion for me if you experience it all," Li said.

The trial was continuing at press time last night.

A Chongqing court yesterday handed down the death penalty with a two-year reprieve to two men for their involvement in organized crime, and sentenced 21 others to jail terms ranging from one year to life.

The trials, which started in mid-December, are part of a massive government crackdown on organized crime in the southwestern city.

Wang Tianlun, leader of the 23-member gang, was convicted of organizing and instigating gang-related crimes and was one of the two sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve.

Wang was also fined 100 million yuan ($14.6 million), according to the verdict of the No 5 Intermediate People's Court of Chongqing.

Wang, who set up a food firm in 1996, hired thugs to force farmers to sell pigs to his firm by using violence and other criminal means, and as a result raked in millions of yuan from the illicit trade.

It was also found that he bribed local public security officers for protection.

Tang Youbin was also sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on similar charges.

Peng Gang was given life imprisonment and 20 others got jail terms ranging between one and 20 years.