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A Chinese court has handed down death sentences to a group of prominent figures of a notorious Burmese organized crime group to execution as Beijing continues its efforts on scam networks in the region.

Altogether, 21 Bai family members and associates were sentenced of fraud, homicide, assault and other offenses, stated a state media announcement posted on the court website.

The group is one of a small number of syndicates that rose to power in the 2000s and transformed the poor backwater town of the town into a wealthy center of casinos and red-light districts.

Recently they shifted to fraudulent schemes in which thousands of smuggled individuals, many of them Chinese, are trapped, harmed and obligated to scam victims in criminal activities estimated at billions.

Information of the Judgment

Syndicate leader Bai Suocheng and his offspring Bai Yingcang were included in the five figures sentenced to execution by the court in Shenzhen. Yang Liqiang, Hu Xiaojiang and Chen Guangyi were the remaining sentenced.

A couple of figures of the clan syndicate were received suspended death sentences. Five were condemned to life in prison, while additional individuals were handed prison terms varying from three to 20 years.

This family, who led their own private army, set up 41 compounds to house their digital scam schemes and gambling houses, officials stated.

Extent of Criminal Activities

These unlawful enterprises involved over 29bn yuan ($4.1bn; over three billion pounds). These activities also resulted in the fatalities of six Chinese nationals, the self-inflicted death of an individual and multiple assaults, state media announced.

The severe punishments issued by the court are part of China's campaign to remove the extensive fraud operations in the region - and issue a firm warning to additional illegal organizations.

History of the Clans

Such clans rose to power in the early 2000s with the support of Min Aung Hlaing - who currently heads Myanmar's military government. He had wanted to support partners in the town after replacing its previous warlord.

Among the groups, the Bais were "absolutely number one", the son previously stated to official sources.

Back then, the clan was the leading in each of the political and armed spheres," the individual said in a film about the Bai family, aired on national media in July.

In the same documentary, a employee at one of illegal operations narrated the mistreatment he had endured there: in addition to being assaulted, he had his nails yanked out with pliers and two of his digits cut off with a tool.

More Allegations

The son is included in those who were given to execution in the latest ruling. The individual has also been independently found guilty of organizing to trade and produce 11 tonnes of narcotics, reports announced.

Decline of the Families

The families' downfall occurred in 2023 as situations altered.

For years Beijing has pressed the Myanmar junta to control scam activities in the area.

Recently, the Chinese police announced legal actions for the key individuals of such groups.

The patriarch, the Bai family's leader, was among the figures who were handed to Beijing from the country in the beginning of the year.

"Why is the Chinese government putting such extensive work to go after the clans?" a Chinese investigator said in the summer report.

The purpose is to caution other people, regardless of who you are, your location, as long as you commit such terrible acts affecting the Chinese people, you will face consequences."