Huge probe set stage for 'gang' trial of mining tycoon Liu Han

Hundreds of police officers gathered evidence from around the country for the trial of the mining tycoon Liu Han who is accused of running a mafia-style gang, state media reported.

Some 424 officers collected evidence from places as far-flung as Sichuan, Inner Mongolia, Shanghai, Macau and Hong Kong, the Hubei Daily reported yesterday.

Liu, his brother Liu Wei and 34 other accused members of his gang are standing trial in Xianning city, in Hubei province.

Liu Han faces 15 charges, including murder, financial crimes, running casinos and illegally selling firearms. He has denied the charges, according to more than three sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

The more severe charges against Liu include the murder of nine people over business disputes, the Hubei Daily said.

Liu's case is thought to be connected to the corruption investigation into the retired security tsar Zhou Yongkong.

A person with knowledge of the case previously said that the name of Zhou's eldest son, Zhou Bin has appeared in case files and transcripts of interviews with police.