Prosecutors in Hebei Province have charged 44 people believed to
be members of a heavily armed organized crime syndicate that
allegedly extorted 800 million yuan (US$104.9 million).
It is the largest amount of money involved in such a case in
China's history.
The accused appeared in Zhangjiakou Intermediate People's Court,
Hebei, on Monday morning on charges of contract fraud, illegal
possession and purchase of ammunitions, stealing guns, public
fighting and disorder, assault with intent to injure, inciting
violence, illegal detention, illegal search and illegal disposition
of sealed-up property, the Yanzhao Metropolitan News
reported yesterday.
The gang allegedly committed the crimes between 2002 and 2006 in
Hebei's Tangshan City.
Suspected ringleader Yang Shukuan, 39, was arrested by police on
March 17 on charges of contract swindling at his Huayun Co in
Tangshan.
Yang's alleged gang is believed to be the country's biggest
organized criminal group, with large stashes of weapons and
ammunition.
Police seized 35 guns and more than 330 bullets from Yang and
his gang, the newspaper said.
Huayun Co allegedly swindled nearly 69 million yuan via
contracts from a Hebei industrial trading company in 2005 when
Huayun planned to buy an iron ore mine in Tangshan, prosecutors
said in a 45-page indictment.
Yang, who was also reportedly addicted to drugs and a known
womanizer, allegedly recruited about 40 roughnecks, mostly
ex-convicts, and bribed police officers to establish his gang.
Yang and his accomplices allegedly threatened mine owners with
guns and other heavy weapons so they could occupy their mines and
companies.
Yang also "borrowed" money from local companies in deals reached
under threat of violence. These deals brought him at least 500
million yuan, according to the report.
A subordinate's wife was forced to be Yang's mistress, and he
allegedly forced her to take drugs, according to the report.
(Shanghai Daily January 23, 2008)