SIX ringleaders were executed yesterday for carrying out China's biggest armed robbery since 1949.
The deaths took place shortly after the robbers' appeals were rejected by the Guangdong Higher People's Court.
The verdict was announced during a mass rally held at a sport stadium in Panyu city, where the 15 million yuan (HK$13.93 million) robbery took place in December.
The six had been sentenced to death by Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court in February. They carried out an armed robbery, hijacked a security van, shot dead a guard and wounded a van driver.
Four others were sentenced to life imprisonment for helping the gang make their getaway and sharing the stolen money.
The police have now recovered most of the loot, leaving about one million yuan unaccounted for.
