The Hubei High People's Court on Monday heard the appeal of former mining tycoon Liu Han, a statement issued by the Intermediate People's Court of Xianning said.

The appeal of his brother Liu Wei was also heard on Monday.

Liu Han and Liu Wei were sentenced to death in May for organizing and leading a criminal organization as well as murder.

The gang, led by the Liu brothers, is the largest mafia-style criminal group to be tried in recent years in China. Gang members carried out criminal activities from 1993, mostly in neighboring Sichuan Province.