Chinese court sentences three Myanmar scam gang members to death

A court in eastern China has sentenced three members of a criminal gang to death for operating telecommunications scam centres in Myanmar. Al Jazeera, the South China Morning Post, CBS News, and China Daily all reported that three individuals were handed death sentences on Tuesday. The rulings target members of a notorious Myanmar crime syndicate involved in widespread cross-border fraud. [1][3][5][7]

According to Al Jazeera, the Quanzhou Intermediate People's Court in southeastern Fujian province sentenced Wei Huairen, Chen Dawei, and Liao Jingfang. The three were identified as members of the Wei family criminal gang. Al Jazeera reported that the syndicate was involved in telecommunications fraud, drug trafficking, organised prostitution, illegal casino operations, and the murder of at least two people. Dozens of other individuals received prison sentences for their involvement in the network. [1]

Outlets differed slightly on the total number of deaths attributed to the crime syndicate. While Al Jazeera reported that the gang was responsible for the murder of at least two people, the South China Morning Post reported that the operations caused the deaths of four Chinese nationals. Ratopati reported that the scam network was operated in the Kokang region of Myanmar. [1][3][8]

Capital punishment is a legal penalty in China that applies to offences ranging from murder to drug trafficking. Executions in the country are carried out by lethal injection or by shooting. [9]