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A China's court has sentenced five top figures of an infamous Myanmar organized crime group to capital punishment as Beijing maintains its efforts on fraudulent operations in Southeast Asian region.

Overall, 21 Bai family figures and partners were found guilty of scams, homicide, injury and various crimes, reported a state media report posted on the court portal.

The family is one of a few of mafias that became dominant in the early 2000s and transformed the impoverished backwater town of Laukkaing into a profitable hub of casinos and entertainment zones.

In recent years they shifted to scams in which thousands of smuggled people, a large number of them from China, are trapped, mistreated and compelled to cheat victims in illegal operations estimated at billions.

Information of the Judgment

Mafia leader Bai Suocheng and his offspring the younger Bai were among the five figures given to execution by the judicial body. Yang Liqiang, A third figure and A fourth person were the other three sentenced.

A couple of members of the Bai family syndicate were handed suspended death sentences. Five were sentenced to life in prison, while more figures were given prison terms between several years to two decades.

The clan, who commanded their own militia, set up 41 bases to host their digital scam operations and casinos, officials reported.

Scale of Illegal Activities

These unlawful activities included exceeding 29 billion yuan ($4.1 billion; £3.1 billion). These activities also led to the fatalities of six Chinese citizens, the suicide of an individual and several assaults, official sources reported.

The harsh penalties issued by the judicial body are within China's effort to remove the large fraud rings in Southeast Asia - and deliver a stern warning to additional illegal syndicates.

Context of the Families

These families rose to power in the early 2000s with the assistance of Min Aung Hlaing - who is in charge of the country's regime. The leader had aimed to bolster allies in Laukkaing after replacing its earlier leader.

Among the groups, the Bais were "absolutely number one", the son earlier stated to state media.

"At that time, the clan was the leading in both the government and military circles," the individual remarked in a report about the Bai family, shown on Chinese state media in the summer.

In the same documentary, a individual at their illegal operations described the mistreatment he had suffered at the location: besides being hit, he had his nails extracted with pliers and two of his digits amputated with a blade.

Further Charges

Bai Yingcang is among those who were given to execution recently. The individual has also been independently found guilty of conspiring to trade and manufacture 11 tonnes of illegal drugs, reports reported.

Downfall of the Clans

The families' fall came in last year as political winds shifted.

Previously Chinese authorities has urged the regime to control scam schemes in the area.

In 2023, the law enforcement issued detention orders for the most prominent members of these clans.

Bai Suocheng, the clan's head, was included in the figures who were handed to Beijing from Myanmar in early 2024.

For what reason is the state making significant resources to go after the four families?" a Chinese investigator commented in the July film.

This serves as a warning individuals, regardless of your position, your location, if you carry out these serious acts affecting the citizens, you will face consequences."