'Godmother' of Chongqing crime gang sentenced to 18 years

• Source: Global Times
• [08:13 November 04 2009]
• Comments

Xie Caiting (1st L, front) and her accomplices listen to the sentences at the Chongqing No. 5 Intermediate People's Court in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Nov. 3, 2009. Organized crime boss Xie Caiping, labeled the "godmother of the underworld" in Chongqing, was sentenced to 18 years in prison Tuesday. The other 21 accomplices, including officials who offered protection to gang members, were given jail terms ranging from one to 13 years in sentences by the Chongqing No. 5 Intermediate People's Court. (Xinhua photo)

Two key members of the gang, Chen Xiaorong and Huang Dongmei, were sentenced to prison terms of six and a half years and six years respectively for loan sharking at gambling dens.

Guo Sheng and Gan Yong, two police officers convicted of taking bribes worth 180,000 yuan ($26,361) and protecting the gang, were sentenced to 13 years and 12 years in jail respectively.

Reportedly, Chen cried when the verdict was issued and Huang fainted in court.

Local residents welcomed the verdict though some thought the punishment was too light.

"It's encouraging to know the gangs were finally brought to justice," Yan Ting, a Chongqing resident, told the Global Times Tuesday.

"But considering the harm and bad influence they've had on society, the punishment is too light to intimidate other gangsters at large," she said.

Chongqing started a gang crackdown in June, exposing deep ties between police and criminals.

Warrants have been issued for the arrest of more than 800 people, and 327 people have been prosecuted, said Chongqing's procuratorate, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Xinhua contributed to this story