A former CPPCC delegate is on trial in Henan province for allegedly running a triad gang said to have killed four people, extorted funds and illegally imprisoned victims in more than 100 different cases. Former Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference delegate Wang Zhensong, 45, went on trial on Wednesday with 54 others. Wang, 45, also known as Wang Song, was formerly a CPPCC representative for Dongfeng City, an NPC delegate of Xuanhua township and the chairman of the Henan Songfeng Corporation. Wang, who is being tried at the Zhengzhou City Intermediate People's Court, reportedly formed his gang in 1996, under the auspices of providing 'safety patrols' at the Dengfeng City Baisha Reservoir, where he had gained a contract to work through his Songfeng Corporation, Xinhua reported. Wang allegedly recruited company managers to help him buy guns, ammunition, handcuffs and police motorcycles and gave them to hired thugs who extorted money and illegally imprisoned visitors to the reservoir. In one case cited by the court, Hou Xiaowei and his girlfriend, Wang Yueling, were taking a boat ride on the Baisha Reservoir when they were captured by Wang Zhensong's gang. They were reportedly handcuffed and beaten in the boat, before being drowned when the four gang members capsized it. Charges facing Wang and the other defendants include illegally imprisoning 47 people; one case of murder; instances of beating and extorting money amounting to more than 47.5 million yuan (HK$44.65 million) from victims; and evading taxes worth 1.19 million yuan. The gang is also accused of allowing illegal activities on the reservoir's grounds, including prostitution and gambling dens. The prosecution's case is expected to last 10 days. Li Zhenxuan, the former chief of the Lucheng branch of the Agricultural Bank of China in Zhengzhou, is expected to stand trial soon in a separate hearing in connection with abusing his position to help Wang's gang funnel illegal funds into the bank.
