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A Chinese court has condemned a group of top members of a notorious Burmese organized crime group to execution as Beijing continues its crackdown on fraudulent operations in South East Asia.

Overall, 21 Bai family individuals and collaborators were convicted of fraud, homicide, assault and various crimes, said a official report posted on the court website.

The family is among a small number of organized crime groups that became dominant in the early 2000s and converted the impoverished isolated region of Laukkaing into a profitable base of gambling establishments and nightlife areas.

Over the past few years they pivoted to illegal operations in which many of trafficked workers, a large number of them from China, are ensnared, harmed and compelled to cheat targets in illegal activities worth huge sums.

Specifics of the Judgment

Mafia boss Bai Suocheng and his heir the younger Bai were among the five figures sentenced to execution by the court in Shenzhen. Yang Liqiang, A third figure and Chen Guangyi were the additional punished.

Two figures of the clan syndicate were given delayed executions. Five were condemned to life imprisonment, while more figures were handed prison sentences varying from three to 20 years.

The clan, who led their own armed group, set up 41 bases to house their cyberscam schemes and gambling houses, officials stated.

Scale of Criminal Activities

Such illegal enterprises involved more than twenty-nine billion Chinese yuan (over four billion dollars; £3.1bn). These activities also led to the fatalities of several Chinese citizens, the self-inflicted death of one and numerous assaults, state media stated.

The severe penalties issued by the court are a component of China's campaign to eradicate the vast scam networks in Southeast Asia - and send a firm warning to additional unlawful syndicates.

Background of the Groups

Such groups rose to power in the recent decades with the help of Min Aung Hlaing - who now leads Myanmar's military government. He had intended to support allies in Laukkaing after removing its previous ruler.

Within the groups, the Bais were "the most powerful", Bai Yingcang before told state media.

Back then, our Bai family was the dominant in both the government and armed circles," the individual remarked in a documentary about the Bai family, aired on Chinese state media in July.

In the same film, a employee at their illegal operations recalled the abuse he had suffered there: in addition to being beaten, he had his nails yanked out with tools and a couple of his digits cut off with a tool.

More Accusations

The son is included in those who were condemned to death in the latest ruling. The individual has additionally been independently sentenced of conspiring to traffic and make eleven tons of methamphetamine, reports reported.

Downfall of the Families

Their downfall occurred in recent times as circumstances shifted.

For years Beijing has pressed the local government to limit scam operations in Laukkaing.

Recently, the authorities announced legal actions for the leading figures of such groups.

The patriarch, the clan's patriarch, was included in the warlords who were transferred to Beijing from Myanmar in early 2024.

For what reason is the authorities putting so much effort to go after the groups?" a Chinese investigator said in the summer documentary.

"It's to warn individuals, regardless of who you are, your base, as long as you commit such terrible crimes against the Chinese people, you will be held accountable."