Convicted ex-top cop asks for leniency

Wen Qiang appeals against death sentence; still denies protecting mafia-style gangs

CHONGQING - Wen Qiang, the former deputy chief of the police authority in this southern municipality, appealed against his conviction of protecting gangs, bribery, rape and property scamming on Thursday during his second trial and asked for a lenient sentence.

Wen received the death penalty for committing the crimes after his first trial in April - a milestone wrapping up Chongqing's anti-gang campaign that convicted 383 mafia-style gangsters and netted dozens of fallen police officers who protected the organizations.