Han Ximin

    ximhan@126.com

    FORTY accused members of a triad in Shajing, Bao’an District, including its ringleader, stood trial yesterday for charges involving 14 kinds of offenses, including murder, organized crime, kidnapping, illegal detention, robbery, gambling, assault and bribery.

    The Shajing branch of the Sun Yee On triad, one of the leading triads in Hong Kong, is the largest overseas triad branch ever busted by Shenzhen police.

    Prosecutors accused Chen Yaodong, the alleged ringleader, and his subordinates of involvement in 58 criminal cases, including two homicides. Chen led the triad branch for about 20 years and was involved in organized crimes that resulted in one death and two cases of injuries from assault, prosecutors told Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court. Chen was also allegedly involved in kidnapping, illegal detention and beating others to demand debt payments.

    Prosecutors also claimed that a former Party chief of Shajing Subdistrict, Liu Shao-xiong, took bribes of HK$12.2 million (US$1.6 million) and 7.45 million yuan (US$1.2 million) from Chen.

    The underground organization known as “Shajing Sun Yee On” was founded by Chen in the early 1990s under the guidance of his uncle, Chan Sek-bo, a key member of Sun Yee On, the court was told.

    Police arrested 102 members, including 22 key members, in a crackdown in March.

    The organizational structure and management of the Shajing branch were very similar to those of the Hong Kong organization. The five-level pyramid organization had hundreds of members. Chen’s organization was cooperating with more than 10 companies and ran several hotels and entertainment venues in the subdistrict.

    It allegedly monopolized garbage recycling, gas supplies and construction material trade in the area. The gang had also dabbled in real estate and made substantial profits through illegal property development, the court was told.