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One China's judicial body has sentenced a group of prominent individuals of a notorious Myanmar organized crime group to death as Chinese authorities continues its campaign on fraudulent activities in the region.

In all, twenty-one Bai family individuals and collaborators were found guilty of scams, homicide, assault and other offenses, reported a state media announcement published on the court portal.

The family is one of a few of mafias that became dominant in the last two decades and changed the poor isolated region of the town into a wealthy center of casinos and nightlife areas.

Recently they pivoted to scams in which many of illegally moved people, several of them from China, are trapped, mistreated and obligated to defraud others in illegal activities valued at billions of dollars.

Details of the Verdict

Mafia leader Bai Suocheng and his son Bai Yingcang were among the five men condemned to death by the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court. Yang Liqiang, A third figure and A fourth person were the other three convicted.

Two individuals of the Bai family mafia were received suspended death sentences. Several were given to permanent incarceration, while additional individuals were given prison terms between a period of 3-20 years.

The clan, who commanded their own armed group, established 41 bases to house their online fraud activities and betting establishments, officials stated.

Magnitude of Unlawful Activities

These unlawful enterprises entailed exceeding 29 billion yuan ($4.1 billion; £3.1 billion). These activities also caused the fatalities of six Chinese individuals, the self-inflicted death of one and numerous assaults, reports announced.

The harsh penalties delivered by the court are part of China's effort to eliminate the vast fraud networks in South East Asia - and send a firm warning to additional illegal syndicates.

Context of the Groups

These families rose to power in the recent decades with the assistance of Min Aung Hlaing - who currently heads the country's military government. The leader had aimed to prop up allies in the town after ousting its previous warlord.

Among the groups, the this family were "the top", the son previously informed state media.

During that period, the clan was the most powerful in both the government and military circles," he remarked in a film about the Bai family, aired on Chinese state media in the summer.

In the same film, a employee at their illegal operations recalled the abuse he had suffered at the location: besides being beaten, he had his nails yanked out with pliers and two of his fingers cut off with a kitchen knife.

Additional Accusations

The son is included in those who were given to death in the latest ruling. The individual has also been independently sentenced of organizing to smuggle and produce a large quantity of methamphetamine, official sources reported.

End of the Families

The families' fall came in last year as political winds shifted.

Previously Chinese authorities has encouraged the local government to rein in fraudulent operations in Laukkaing.

Last year, the authorities released arrest warrants for the most prominent members of such families.

The patriarch, the clan's head, was among the individuals who were transferred to China from the country in recent months.

"Why is the state putting such extensive work to pursue the four families?" a Chinese investigator stated in the summer documentary.

"It's to warn other people, no matter your position, where you are, as long as you commit such serious crimes affecting the Chinese people, you will be held accountable."