Shenyang public security authorities have crushed a vast criminal gang which allegedly was run by a city legislator and included party officials and police who committed torture, blackmail and murder over the past 10 years.
Police in Shenyang, Liaoning province, said yesterday they had completed a 20-month investigation into a 45-member secret society allegedly masterminded by city official and party member Liu Yong, Xinhua reported.
Liu and the other 45 suspects were arrested and charged with crimes including membership of an underworld society, assault, blackmail, tax evasion, state bank loan fraud and possession of guns among others. It is expected more party and government officials will be implicated. Police also found 13 guns, 26 swords and knives and several vehicles allegedly used for the crimes.
The Xinhua report detailed how Liu paid off fellow officials and bribed public security officers to build a real estate, retail, and tobacco empire in Shenyang by attacking competitors with choppers and destroying opponents' properties.
Liu and his gangsters killed at least 42 people throughout the 1990s, including a shopkeeper who was beaten to death and 16 others who were stabbed, burned or badly beaten, Xinhua said.
'Liu Yong collaborated with corrupt elements within local government and party departments to weave a powerful 'umbrella of protection',' Xinhua said, adding allegations he evaded 20 million yuan (HK$18.8 million) in tax and illegally gained 100 million yuan in loans from state banks.