From September 19 to 22, the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court in South China’s Guangdong Province holds a public trial for Bai family criminal group Photo: People’s Daily

From September 19 to 22, the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court in South China’s Guangdong Province held its first public trial of 21 defendants, including Bai Suocheng and Bai Yingcang, on charges of fraud, intentional homicide, intentional injury, kidnapping, extortion, operating a casino, organizing and forcing prostitution, illegal detention, organizing others to illegally cross national borders, illegal border crossing, smuggling, trafficking, transporting and manufacturing drugs, aiding in destruction and falsifying evidence, People’s Daily reported on Monday.

Shenzhen Procuratorate has filed charges against the criminal group led by key members of the Bai family, including Bai Suocheng, Bai Yingneng, who is being handled in a separate case, and Bai Yingcang, along with other family members such as Bai Yingxiang, Bai Yinglan, Bai Yingping, Bai Yinggai, who are all being handled in separate cases, and Li Fushou, as well as their trusted subordinates such as Yang Zaihua and Luo Wenjun (both handled in separate cases), and armed leaders like Yang Zaijun, Liu Hualong (both handled in separate cases), and Li Longhua, according to the report.

Since August 2009, this group has exploited the Bai family’s influence in the Kokang region of Myanmar, relying on their family’s armed forces to establish 41 facilities, including Baisheng Hotel, Tenglong No.1 Building, and Cangsheng Tech Park, through self-construction and cooperative development, according to the report. 

They attracted numerous “investors”, such as Yang Liqiang, Chen Shuangfu, and Yan Jiefeng, providing armed protection in exchange. Together with these “investors”, they engaged in various criminal activities, including telecommunications network fraud, intentional homicide, intentional injury, kidnapping, extortion, operating illegal gambling, organizing others to illegally cross borders, and organizing or forcing prostitution. These activities resulted in the deaths of six Chinese nationals and injuries to multiple others, with over 20 billion yuan ($2.81 billion) involved in gambling and fraud, according to the report. 

Additionally, Bai Yingcang was involved in the trafficking and manufacturing of approximately 11 tons of methamphetamine.

The procuratorial authority has requested that criminal responsibility be pursued against the Bai family criminal group and its associated criminal gang members for 12 charges, including fraud, intentional homicide, and intentional injury.

During the court trial, the procuratorial authority presented relevant evidence, and the defendants and their defense attorneys conducted cross-examinations. Under the court’s guidance, both the prosecution and defense sides fully expressed their opinions, and each defendant made a final statement, according to the report.

After the trial concluded, the court announced a recess and stated that a verdict would be delivered at another date, according to the report.

Global Times