Mafia prosecuted in central China

Thirty-six members of an alleged mafia-style gang were prosecuted on Thursday over nine murders and other charges, according to a court in central China. The Xianning People's Procuratorate in Hubei Province filed the lawsuit against the group to the Xianning Intermediate People's Court. The gang, allegedly led by Liu Han and Liu Wei, is the largest mafia-style criminal group to be prosecuted in recent years in China. Both Lius were charged with 15 crimes, including intentional homicide, injury and illegal detention. According to the prosecution, the gang members carried out illegal and criminal activities since 1993, mainly in neighboring Sichuan Province, grabbing huge economic interests and seriously disturbing local public security, and economic and social order.