Chongqing dragnet claims new mob boss

By Wang Huazhong (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-06 07:47

CHONGQING: Convicted mob boss Li Yi was sentenced to 20 years in jail yesterday, the latest ringleader to fall amid a massive crackdown on gangs in Chongqing.

Li, 35, was caught in the dragnet sweeping organized crime off the streets.

The native of Kaixian county of Chongqing is called the "tyrant of Kaixian county" by many. Through his gang, Li controlled a lion's share in local passenger transport market and farm products trade market.

The Chongqing No 2 Intermediate People's Court ruled that Li should serve 20 years behind bars and pay a fine of 1.01 million yuan ($148,000) for crimes including organizing and leading a mafia-style gang, forcing trades, provoking fights and quarrels, illegal possession of guns, intentional injury of others, intentional damage of others' assets, extortion, blackmail, arson and robbery.

Twenty-seven other people, who stood as co-defendants with Li in the court, were sentenced to terms from 6 months to 17 years. Twenty-five of them were found guilty of having participated in Li's gang.

More than half of the gangsters are younger than 30 years old. The youngest is 18.

The gang controlled a property developer and a passenger transport firm, in both of which Li was a major shareholder. The companies used unlawful means such as forced trading, extortion and blackmail to dominate the local transport and farm products markets, according to the convict.

More than 3 million yuan in illegal gains generated from the businesses was used to finance the gang, which injured seven people, according to the convict.

Since August 2001, Li controlled the gang by housing, dining, paying and doing favors for gangsters, the court heard.

Li established the Kaixian County Property Development Co in 2004. He and key members of the gang recruited mobsters to collect rentals, often using violence, from contracted farm products vendors, the verdict said.

Gangsters also threatened other shareholders of the company to give up their stakes to the gang.

A former minority shareholder, Xiong Suqing, 67, who said he was "just a nominal manager" of the company, said Li's conviction is "inspiring news".

"I believe the market will be fair and prosperous soon," Xiong said.

Through Kaixian County Jiangli Passenger Transport Co, which the gang established in March last year, Li began his acquisition and control of the local transport market.

Gang members forced passenger vehicle owners, who operated routes between the county and rural areas, to use the company's parking lots, and charged them on a monthly basis.

A director of the county's traffic and transport department, who only gave his surname as Zhang, said yesterday that a crackdown on unlicensed bus operators will continue.

Another Chongqing court is expected to hand down convictions on alleged gang bosses Zhang Tao and Zhang Bo, 23-year-old twins, this morning.