China sentences gang ‘godmother’ to 18 years’ jail
BEIJING — A woman called the “godmother” of a mafia-style gang in China’s southern city of Chongqing was sentenced to 18 years in prison Tuesday for running underground casinos and bribing government officials.
The trial of Xie Caiping is part of a months-long crackdown in the city that has exposed widespread government and police involvement in providing cover to numerous local gangs, or “black societies.” It has also riveted China’s state-controlled media with tales of a violent underworld.
Twenty-one others were sentenced to between one and 13 years in prison, according to a notice on the Chongqing court Web site.
The crackdown in Chongqing has been extensive, netting more than 1,544 suspects — gangsters, prominent businessmen and 14 high-ranking officials. Six gang members in the city have already been sentenced to death for crimes including murder and blackmail, the first among hundreds expected to go on trial.
Xie, 46, is the sister-in-law of the city’s long-serving deputy police chief, who was detained for investigation by the ruling Communist Party in August. He is regarded as being the center of an extensive network of protection of local gangs for over a decade.
She cursed in court when her trial started, which drew a rebuke from the judge but delighted the public, which has reveled in tales in the local media that she kept 16 lovers.
Chen Yanling, a Chongqing resident who says she was beaten by thugs after refusing a corrupt policeman’s request to turn her teahouse into a casino, said she and other victims waited outside the court for the sentence. But they were angered by the result, with some people refusing to leave until police escorted them away.
“We didn’t believe our ears when we first heard it’s just 18 years. How many crimes has she committed?” Chen said.
The court notice said Xie’s gang “severely broke the normal order of society,” and illegally detained others and allowed loan sharking at the casinos.
The casino took a cut of the profits won by gamblers, the notice said. It said casino bosses hired stand-ins to take the blame when there was a crackdown and paid bribes to judicial officials.
No. 5 Intermediate People’s Court said Xie earned more than 2 million yuan ($293,000) from the illegal activities.
Related News
Kenyan court releases leader of gang accused of beheading its victimsOctober 23rd, 2009 Kenyan court frees leader of notorious gangNAIROBI, Kenya — A Kenyan court has released the leader of a gang notorious for beheading its victims after prosecutors dropped 28 murder charges against him. It was not immediately clear why prosecutors dropped the charges against Maina Njenga on Friday.
Three gang bosses sentenced to death in ChinaOctober 22nd, 2009 BEIJING - Three gang leaders were sentenced to death yesterday and three others got the ultimate penalty - with a two-year reprieve - as courts in Chongqing municipality began a series of organized-crime trials. Yang Tianqing, 35, was given the death sentence after he was convicted of murder, assault, extortion, coercive business practices and other charges linked to "mafia-style gang" operations, according to a statement issued by the No 1 Intermediate People's Court in China's most populous city.
More than 1,100 LA police, FBI agents serve arrest warrants in latest anti-gang operationOctober 22nd, 2009 More than 1,100 feds, LA police conduct gang sweepLOS ANGELES — More than 1,100 police and FBI agents are banging on doors in Los Angeles in the latest crackdown on street gangs. Los Angeles police Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese says officers and agents began serving arrest warrants before dawn Thursday at 47 locations.
8 arrested in federal crackdown on human smuggling ring linked to LA-area gangOctober 15th, 2009 8 arrested in Calif crackdown on smuggling ringLOS ANGELES — Eight people have been arrested in Southern California for allegedly smuggling hundreds of illegal immigrants into the United States. Federal agents served arrest warrants Tuesday night and Wednesday morning in Los Angeles and in Imperial County.
Cuban spy, US seek reduced 20-year sentence after initial life prison term thrown outOctober 13th, 2009 Cuban spy seeks reduced 20-year sentenceMIAMI — A federal judge in Miami is weighing whether to approve a reduced 20-year prison sentence for a convicted Cuban spy. An appeals court last year threw out as unjustifiably harsh the original life prison term imposed on 50-year-old Antonio Guerrero.
Federal appeals court in NYC upholds Rigas' sentencingOctober 5th, 2009 Appeals court in NYC upholds Rigas' sentencingNEW YORK — A federal appeals court in New York has upheld prison sentences given to a father and son who built Adelphia Communications into a cable television powerhouse. The 2nd U.S.
Man jailed for 18 years for role in one of Britain's biggest cash robberiesOctober 5th, 2009 Man jailed for one of UK's biggest cash robberiesLONDON — A British man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in a robbery nearly three years ago of 53 million pounds (about $85 million). Paul Allen's sentence was handed down Monday at a London court.
Feds: Gang leader plotted escape from prison in helicopter to be built, flown by underlingsOctober 2nd, 2009 Feds: Gang leader plotted airborne prison breakNASHVILLE, Tenn. — Federal authorities say a gang leader had developed an elaborate plot to escape from prison in a homemade helicopter flown by his underlings.
China sentences 3 people to prison for syringe attacks in restive XinjiangSeptember 11th, 2009 China sentences 3 to prison over syringe attacksBEIJING — A court in western China's Xinjiang region sentenced three people to up to 15 years in prison Saturday for a series of mysterious syringe attacks that led to mass protests against the local government. The protests by tens of thousands of Han Chinese earlier this month said the government can't guarantee their safety.
Texas mother sentenced for 99 years after sexually mutilating sonAugust 18th, 2009 HOUSTON — A jury has sentenced a Texas mother convicted of mutilating her infant by cutting off his genitals to 99 years in prison. Jurors deliberated for about two hours on Monday before sentencing 28-year-old Katherine Nadal.
US Army reduces soldiers' sentences after murder convictions in 2007 deaths of 4 IraqisAugust 14th, 2009 US Army reduces soldiers' murder sentencesFRANKFURT — The U.S. Army said Friday it had reduced the sentences of three soldiers convicted of murder in the execution-style slayings of four bound and blindfolded Iraqi detainees.
Argentina court convicts retired general, 4 others in 1976 killing during dictatorshipAugust 13th, 2009 Argentina convicts ex-general in 1976 killingBUENOS AIRES, Argentina — A retired general and four other members of the military have been convicted and sentenced to long prison terms in the 1976 killing of a communist activist. Retired Gen.
Bail denied for LA gang member turned activist facing federal racketeering chargesJuly 1st, 2009 Bail denied for LA gang member turned activistLOS ANGELES — A judge has denied bail for a former Los Angeles gang member turned anti-gang activist who is accused of still participating in a notorious prison gang. A federal magistrate judge said Tuesday that 37-year-old Alex Sanchez has a criminal history and could seek revenge.
China slams Clinton's Tiananmen Square remarksJune 5th, 2009 BEIJING - China has expressed deep discontent and resolute opposition to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's call for Beijing to publish the names of those killed or missing in the Tiananmen crackdown in 1989. Clinton has urged China to openly look into the June 3-4, 1989, incident and give an accounting of those killed, missing or detained during the military crackdown.
Chinese court sentences three over arson attack during 2008 riots in Tibet capital LhasaApril 21st, 2009 Three sentenced over arson in 2008 Tibet riotsBEIJING — A Chinese court has sentenced three people to lengthy prison terms over deadly arson attacks during last year's rioting in the Tibetan capital Lhasa, state media reported Tuesday. One suspect, Penkyi, was given the death penalty with a two-year reprieve for helping to lead attacks on two clothing stores that killed six people, the official Xinhua News Agency said.
Loading ...