Jail for mob boss, policeman
By Wang Xiang |
April 13, 2010, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A GANG leader in Chongqing City was sentenced to life in prison yesterday for leading a mafia-like gang that ran casinos and prostitution dens in the city.
Wang Xiaojun was found guilty of running the biggest sports betting casino chain in the southwestern city, earning more than 20 million yuan (US$2.9 million) since 2001, said Chongqing No. 5 Intermediate People's Court.
The court sentenced another 22 gang members to jail terms ranging from 18 months to 18 years.
Li Hanbin, a former anti-gang police chief who also stood trial with the mob boss, was convicted of taking 260,000 yuan in bribes from Wang and conniving with the gang.
Li was jailed for 16 years and fined 300,000 yuan.
The court heard that gamblers could bet on almost every known sports game at the casinos Wang had operated on the Internet since 2001.
With the money he gained in these virtual casinos, Wang started to recruit gang members, mostly ex-convicts, to work at a nightclub he opened in 2004.
He used these men to employ force to edge out competitors and "discipline" his staff. Any nightclub worker who broke Wang's rules would be beaten up, according to media reports.
Wang also offered sex services at the nightclub. He gained more than 59 million yuan from prostitution alone, the court heard.
Wang's nightclub went unchecked for more than five years as he was good at seeking protection from the authorities.
He confessed in court that he had given Chongqing's former deputy police chief, Peng Changjian, 890,000 yuan in return of his protection. Peng was jailed for life for corruption and protecting criminal gangs in February.
He also managed to make contact with high-ranking officers through his connections with anti-gang chief Li, who was a frequent visitor to his club. Li was paid bribes worth 260,000 yuan by Wang.
The court did not support a charge of tax evasion against Wang's gang on the basis of lack of evidence.
Prosecutors had said that Wang had evaded more than 10.61 million yuan in taxes.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
