China has carried out the execution of four individuals convicted of operating a vast criminal syndicate based in Myanmar, which orchestrated multi-billion dollar gambling and telecom scam operations. The defendants were found guilty of establishing industrial parks in Myanmar's Kokang region, bordering China, where they ran illicit activities including kidnappings, extortion, forced prostitution, and drug manufacturing and trafficking.
Details of the Criminal Operations
According to authorities, the group defrauded victims of more than 29 billion yuan, equivalent to approximately £3.04 billion, through their elaborate scam centres and casinos. The Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court announced the executions on Monday morning, following a trial that revealed the syndicate's crimes as "exceptionally heinous." The operations caused the deaths of six Chinese citizens and injuries to others, leading to the severe penalties.
Legal Proceedings and Appeals
In November, five people, including members of the notorious Bai family, were initially sentenced to death for their roles in the network. The group's leader, Bai Suocheng, died from an illness after his conviction. The four executed defendants had appealed the verdict, but the Guangdong Provincial High People's Court dismissed their appeals, upholding the death sentences.
Context of Regional Criminal Activity
This announcement comes less than a week after China executed 11 members of the Ming family for similar crimes, including killing 14 people and running a crime syndicate worth over £730 million out of Myanmar. Scam parks have grown into an industrial-scale business in Southeast Asia, particularly in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, prompting international pressure from China, the US, and other nations to address the proliferation of such criminal activities.
China's Execution Record
In recent years, China has executed more people than any other country, sometimes surpassing the combined total of executions worldwide. This case highlights the country's stringent approach to combating cross-border crime and protecting its citizens from fraud and violence linked to overseas operations.
