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One Chinese judicial body has sentenced five top members of a notorious Burmese mafia to capital punishment as Chinese authorities continues its efforts on fraudulent activities in South East Asia.

Altogether, 21 Bai family figures and partners were found guilty of scams, murder, injury and other offenses, reported a official announcement posted on the judicial portal.

The group is one of a handful of organized crime groups that became dominant in the last two decades and transformed the poor isolated region of Laukkaing into a lucrative hub of casinos and entertainment zones.

Recently they pivoted to fraudulent schemes in which many of illegally moved people, many of them Chinese, are trapped, abused and forced to defraud others in unlawful activities worth huge sums.

Details of the Sentencing

Mafia head the patriarch and his son the younger Bai were included in the five individuals given to capital punishment by the judicial body. Yang Liqiang, A third figure and A fourth person were the remaining punished.

A couple of figures of the Bai family mafia were handed delayed executions. Five were condemned to permanent incarceration, while nine others were handed prison terms varying from a period of 3-20 years.

The clan, who commanded their own militia, set up 41 facilities to house their cyberscam operations and betting establishments, authorities reported.

Scale of Criminal Activities

Such illegal enterprises involved over 29bn yuan (over four billion dollars; £3.1 billion). They also led to the demise of six from China individuals, the self-inflicted death of one and several assaults, state media announced.

The severe sentences issued by the court are part of China's initiative to eradicate the extensive fraud networks in South East Asia - and deliver a strong signal to further illegal groups.

History of the Clans

These clans became dominant in the recent decades with the support of a military leader - who currently heads Myanmar's junta. The leader had wanted to prop up associates in the town after ousting its previous ruler.

Among the groups, the this family were "absolutely number one", Bai Yingcang previously stated to state media.

Back then, our Bai family was the leading in both the political and armed spheres," the individual remarked in a documentary about the clan, shown on official channels in the summer.

During the report, a worker at their their scam centres narrated the harm he had endured there: in addition to being beaten, he had his nails removed with pliers and a couple of his fingers severed with a blade.

Further Accusations

The son is included in those who were condemned to death recently. He has additionally been independently sentenced of planning to trade and manufacture a large quantity of illegal drugs, official sources reported.

End of the Families

The families' fall occurred in 2023 as circumstances altered.

For years Chinese authorities has encouraged the local government to rein in scam operations in Laukkaing.

Recently, the law enforcement released legal actions for the key members of such clans.

The patriarch, the clan's head, was included in the figures who were handed to Beijing from the country in early 2024.

For what reason is the state putting so much effort to go after the clans?" a expert commented in the July documentary.

"It's to warn groups, no matter who you are, your base, as long as you engage in these heinous acts affecting the citizens, you will face consequences."