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China · Society

Northern Myanmar's Wei crime family sentenced: three get death in China

· N GLOBE

Courts in Quanzhou and Nan'an, Fujian, handed down first-instance verdicts on October 13: death for Wei Huairen, Chen Dawei and Liao Jingfang; life for three others; 55 jailed 3 years 3 months to 24 years. Gambling and fraud funds exceeded 12.2 billion yuan.

Why it matters

On October 13, the Intermediate People's Court of Quanzhou and the Nan'an People's Court in Fujian handed down first-instance judgments in the northern Myanmar Wei family crime-syndicate series: Wei Huairen, Chen Dawei and Liao Jingfang were sentenced to death; Wei Qingtao, Kang Min and Xiong Hengxing received life imprisonment; 55 other defendants, including Su Hongxiang and Deng Zida, were jailed for terms ranging from three years and three months to 24 years, with fines, confiscation of property and, where applicable, expulsion from China.

Full report

Judges found that since 2019 the Wei clan had drawn on its influence in Myanmar's Kokang region and the armed force it controlled to set up several criminal parks in Laukkai, wooing "sponsors" to move in under armed cover and running telecom and online fraud, casinos, extortion, organised prostitution, drug trafficking and the organisation of illegal border crossings. Funds tied to gambling and fraud alone exceeded 12.2 billion yuan.

The syndicate also joined park-based fraud rings in killing people who refused to obey management inside the compounds, causing the deaths of two Chinese citizens. Separately, Chen Dawei used the armed force under his control to kill at will, leaving two more Chinese citizens dead. The courts held that the defendants had organised, led or joined a crime group and committed seven counts in all, including intentional homicide and fraud, sentencing each according to the facts, nature, circumstances and harm to society.

Separate cases remain open for Wei Qingsong, the Henry-group leaders Wei Rong and Wei Qinghai, and armed chiefs Cha Guicheng and Yan Longdi.

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