Six bank robbers to die

Six gang members have been sentenced to death for their involvement in the second-largest bank robbery in China last year, official media reported yesterday.

Xinhua said Zhang Shuhai, Zhang Hongchao, Zhang Shijing, Qiao Hongjun, Zhang Yuping, and Zhang Xiaoma also had their assets seized after their trial at Zhengzhou Intermediate People's Court.

Zhang Shuhai was also ordered to pay 40,000 yuan (HK$37,600) to a plaintiff who filed a lawsuit seeking compensation for losses.

Another five accomplices were given jail terms ranging from one to 12 years for illegal possession of weapons and sheltering the criminals.

Wang Yu was jailed for 12 years and fined 30,000 yuan. Wang Zhikun got 10 years, Zhang Yunzhi five years, while Zhang Daguo was given two years and fined 10,000 yuan. Li Jincai was jailed for one year and fined 5,000 yuan.

From 1996 the gang carried out a series of robberies netting four million yuan. Their use of explosives in robbing the Guangdong Development Bank's Zhengzhou branch last December alerted the central Government which staged a massive manhunt. The gang escaped with 2.08 million yuan and a security guard was killed.