Courtroom scene Photo: courtesy of the Intermediate People's Court of Wenzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province

The Intermediate People's Court of Wenzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province on Monday delivered the first-instance verdict in the Ming family criminal syndicate case, sentencing 11 defendants including Ming Guoping, Ming Zhenzhen, Zhou Weichang, Wu Hongming, Wu Senlong and Fu Yubin to death. Others received suspended death sentences, life imprisonment, or fixed-term prison sentences ranging from five to 24 years, along with fines, confiscation of property or deportation, China Central Television (CCTV) reported Monday.

According to the CCTV News, the court found that since 2015, the Ming family criminal syndicate, led by core family members including Ming Xuechang (deceased), Ming Guo'an (handled in a separate case), Ming Guoping and Ming Zhenzhen, with other family members such as Bi Huijun and armed leaders including Zhou Weichang as key members, had exploited the family's influence in the Kokang region of Myanmar. Relying on armed forces under its control, the group set up multiple compounds in Laojie, Shiyuanzi, Qingshuihe and other areas, attracting financiers such as Wu Hongming, Luo Jianzhang and Jiang Ji, and providing them with armed protection. 

Together with these financiers, the syndicate carried out crimes including telecom fraud, illegal gambling, drug trafficking and prostitution, involving more than 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) in illicit funds, per the report.

The criminal syndicate, together with groups led by Wu Hongming and others, killed or injured individuals involved in fraud who attempted to escape or resisted control, resulting in 10 deaths and two injuries. On October 20, 2023, in order to prevent fraud suspects from being handed over to China, Ming family gunmen opened fire while transferring and hiding the suspects, causing four deaths and four injuries, according to CCTV News.

The Intermediate People's Court of Wenzhou ruled that defendants including Ming Guoping, Ming Zhenzhen, Zhou Weichang, Wu Hongming, Wu Senlong and Fu Yubin organized, led or participated in the criminal group's activities, and their conduct constituted 14 crimes including fraud, intentional homicide and intentional injury. Based on the facts, nature, circumstances and social harm of their crimes, the court delivered the aforementioned sentences in accordance with the law, said the report.

More than 160 people, including local legislators, political advisors , family members of the defendants and members of the public attended the trial.

Global Times