Scene of the trial (file photo)
Using the identity of the public security police, gradually forming a mafia-type organization, getting involved in the mining industry, using armed beatings, expulsion of miners with explosive packages, blowing up mine tunnels and equipment, and other means to carry out illegal and criminal activities, and rob gold mine resources...
On December 29, the Luoyang Municipal Intermediate People's Court pronounced a first-instance judgment on Yang Rui and 24 other defendants for organizing, leading, and participating in triad-type organizations. Defendant Yang Rui was sentenced to 23 years' imprisonment, deprivation of political rights for five years, confiscation of all personal property, and a fine of RMB 131 million for the crimes of organizing and leading a mafia-type organization, the crime of explosion, the crime of picking quarrels and provoking trouble, the crime of illegal transportation and storage of explosives, the crime of illegal mining, the crime of illegal detention, the crime of obstructing public service, and the crime of abuse of power. Xue Shiming and 23 other defendants were sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment ranging from 22 years to one year for the crime of participating in a mafia-type organization, and were also sentenced to confiscation of property or a fine.
After trial, it was ascertained that since 2002, defendant Yang Rui had used his status as a public security policeman to collude with defendant Peng Shaoru and others to get involved in the mining industry by contracting for pits in the gold mining area of Lingbao City, and in order to rob the gold mine resources, he had repeatedly premeditated and instructed defendants Xue Shiming, Wang Tianmin, Chen Bangbing, Gong Xinhou, and others to carry out illegal and criminal activities by means of armed beatings, throwing "earthquake thunder," expelling miners with explosive packages, and blowing up mine channels and equipment, gradually forming a mafia-type organization headed by Yang Rui. After that, Yang Rui recruited and absorbed defendants Xu Wange, Xue Wenzhi, Zhao Songbo, Zhang Zincwu, Zhao Yangbo, and others to engage in illegal mining in Luqu County and Lingbao City, Gansu Province, and the defendants Xue Shiming and Wang Weibin acted as leaders or thugs of the organization, violently robbing and protecting mines, cracking down on competitors, co-opting and corrupting leading cadres to seek illegal asylum, helping members of the organization evade legal prosecution, and the organizational power and influence continued to grow, developing into a large number of backbone members with Yang Rui as the leader of the organization, Xue Shiming, Peng Shaoru, and Wang Weibin as backbone members. A mafia-type organization with a clear hierarchy and a clear division of labor.
In order to seek economic benefits and establish illegal authority, the organization disregards the life, health, and safety of others, and often uses pickaxes, "thunderstorms," explosive packs, and so on to drive away miners and blow up roadways, and arbitrarily adopts means such as knife slashing, stick beatings, and group beatings to resolve contradictions and disputes, seriously infringing on the personal rights and property rights of others. Since June 2002, more than 30 illegal and criminal activities such as illegal mining, explosions, picking quarrels and provoking troubles, obstructing public affairs, and illegal detention have been carried out in an organized manner, seizing illegal benefits of up to more than 640 million yuan, causing injuries to more than 30 innocent people, more than 10 party and government cadres, and law enforcement police, destroying a large number of public and private property, and daring many people to report and accuse through normal channels after their legitimate interests have been infringed, causing a bad social impact.
After trial, the Luoyang Intermediate People's Court held that defendant Yang Rui and 24 other defendants had formed a relatively stable criminal organization for the purpose of committing joint crimes, with a relatively large number of members, clear organizers and leaders, basically fixed backbone members, and a relatively clear hierarchy and organizational division of labor. The criminal organization has organized economic benefits through illegal and criminal activities and other improper means, which has seriously undermined the order of local economic and social life and formed a major impact on local mining areas and society, and should be recognized as a mafia-type organization in accordance with law. The above-mentioned judgment was made in accordance with law on the basis of the facts, nature, circumstances, degree of harm to society, and performance of confession and repentance of the 24 defendants' crimes. (Luo Bao Rong Media reporter Shen Lichao correspondent Wang Yuxiao text/photo)
Author: Shen Lichao
Source: Luoyang Network