China Condemns Infamous Burmese Scam Mafia Leaders to Execution

One Chinese judicial body has sentenced a group of leading members of an infamous Myanmar organized crime group to execution as Beijing maintains its efforts on scam activities in South East Asia.

Overall, 21 clan figures and partners were sentenced of scams, murder, injury and various crimes, reported a official announcement released on the judicial website.

The group is one of a handful of organized crime groups that gained influence in the 2000s and changed the underdeveloped backwater town of Laukkaing into a profitable base of gambling establishments and entertainment zones.

Over the past few years they shifted to illegal operations in which numerous of trafficked individuals, several of them Chinese, are ensnared, harmed and forced to defraud others in criminal enterprises worth huge sums.

Details of the Sentencing

Syndicate leader the patriarch and his son the younger Bai were included in the several individuals condemned to death by the judicial body. Another individual, Hu Xiaojiang and A fourth person were the remaining sentenced.

Two members of the Bai family syndicate were received suspended death sentences. Five were sentenced to life in prison, while nine others were given prison terms between three to 20 years.

This family, who led their own militia, set up 41 bases to host their cyberscam activities and betting establishments, officials reported.

Extent of Criminal Operations

Such illegal activities involved more than 29bn Chinese yuan (over four billion dollars; over three billion pounds). They also caused the fatalities of six from China nationals, the self-inflicted death of an individual and numerous harm, reports stated.

The strict sentences delivered by the court are within China's effort to eradicate the vast scam operations in the region - and send a strong message to other illegal syndicates.

Background of the Clans

These clans rose to power in the early 2000s with the assistance of a prominent figure - who now leads Myanmar's junta. The leader had aimed to prop up associates in the town after replacing its earlier warlord.

Among the families, the this family were "the top", Bai Yingcang previously told state media.

Back then, we was the most powerful in each of the government and armed circles," the individual said in a report about the Bai family, broadcast on official channels in July.

Within that documentary, a worker at a illegal operations narrated the abuse he had experienced at the location: besides being assaulted, he had his nails removed with pliers and two of his digits cut off with a kitchen knife.

More Charges

The son is among those who were sentenced to execution in the latest ruling. The individual has also been separately found guilty of planning to trade and produce a large quantity of narcotics, official sources reported.

Downfall of the Families

The families' downfall occurred in recent times as situations changed.

Over a long period Beijing has encouraged the Myanmar junta to control scam operations in Laukkaing.

Recently, the law enforcement released arrest warrants for the most prominent members of such clans.

The patriarch, the clan's patriarch, was among the individuals who were transferred to China from the country in recent months.

"Why is the Chinese government making so much effort to pursue the four families?" a expert stated in the July documentary.

This serves as a warning other people, regardless of your position, your base, if you carry out such heinous acts affecting the citizens, you will pay the price."