‘I was framed’: court outburst by mining tycoon Liu Han as he is sentenced to death

A Sichuan mining tycoon with links to former domestic security tsar Zhou Yongkang erupted in anger when he was sentenced to death yesterday for leading a mafia-style gang.

In a brief hearing in Xianning, Hubei province Liu Han, 48, yelled "I've been framed" and "I've been wronged" to the court before guards took him away, two court witnesses said.

He was found guilty of 13 charges, including murder, running casinos and illegally selling firearms. His younger brother, Liu Wei, also known as Liu Yong, also received a death sentence, according to the microblog account of the Xianning Intermediate People's Court.

The case of Liu Han was considered by investigators to be a prelude to a highly anticipated case against Zhou, commonly referred to as the "giant tiger" who was closely connected with the mining magnate.

The term echoes President Xi Jinping's pledge to crack down on both "tigers" and "flies" (top and junior officials) in his anti-corruption campaign.

Zhou, a former member of the Politburo Standing Committee, is under detention while he is investigated for corruption.