TWENTY-TWO members of a suspected organized criminal group went on trial at Shenzhen Intermediate People s Court on Wednesday, accused of gambling, extortion and using violence in business.
The defendants, allegedly led by Mai Shuijin and Mai Zhiyuan, were accused of organized crime, operating gambling dens, illegal possession of firearms, intentionally causing injury and bribing police for protection, the Daily Sunshine reported Wednesday.
The group had been active around Jiangshi and Tangwei villages in Gongming Subdistrict, Bao an District, since 2000, the report said.
Mai Zhiyuan denied the charges. He claimed he opened a gambling house in 2007, but closed it 18 months later. He claimed he did not know most of the suspects.
The 28-year-old, a native of Jiangshi Village, had been sentenced for extortion by Bao an District People s Court in 2004 and 2008 separately.
According to prosecutors, Shao Kenhe and Zhang An, two of the alleged key members, gave 13,000 yuan (US$1,969) in bribes to four policemen to protect a gambling house in Dawei Village, Gongming Subdistrict, Guangming New Zone.
The hearing is expected to last several days. (Mu Zi)
