AWAITING JUDGEMENT: A policeman stands outside the Chongqing No.1 Intermediate Court (XINHUA)

Six people were sentenced to death and another five received jail terms during trials in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on October 21 for their involvement in gang activity.

The six who received capital punishment hailed from two gangs that operated over the past eight years. They were found guilty of intentionally causing injury, illegally possessing guns or ammunition, false imprisonment, robbery, extortion and forging resident identity cards, a court statement said. They were also linked to the killings of four people and the intentional injury of at least another six.

An additional 23 suspects went to trial on similar charges on October 19-20.

A widespread problem

In July 2008, the Chongqing Municipal Government began conducting a campaign against organized crime. Bo Xilai, Chongqing Party Secretary since 2007, led the crackdown effort.

"The public has been gathering at the gate of our government building, holding blood-stained pictures in deep distress," Bo said, adding that the campaign is aimed at restoring social and economic order and winning people's trust.

Wang Lijun, who was renowned as a tough, upright police commissioner in northeast China's Liaoning Province, was assigned to help the effort in Chongqing.

As of October 28, 814 alleged gangsters in Chongqing had been arrested and 327 faced prosecution, according to the official statistics.

Among those already sent to trial are gangsters who allegedly committed more than 50 crimes, including murder, abduction, rape and drug dealing. Government officials accused of protecting gangs' interests also have been arrested.

Local newspaper Chongqing Morning Post reported in August that 67 key gang figures who already had been arrested were suspected of committing 21 crimes altogether.

Some local officials have been accused of providing a "protective umbrella" for gang activity. Officials and gangsters formed an intricate web that spread to almost every industry in the city, including construction projects, banking, and even food and clothing markets. Information from the People's Procuratorate of Chongqing Municipality shows that 23 officials have been investigated since July 2008.

Wen Qiang, former head of the Chongqing Judicial Administrative Bureau and Deputy Director of Chongqing Public Security Bureau, has been accused of being the highest-level official who provided cover to the gangs.

Wen, who worked in the public security system for 16 years, was once known for fighting against the gangs. That image changed in recent years, though, as his close contact with some of the gangs became known. In one instance, he attended the birthday party for the daughter of one of the gang leaders.

Wen is suspected of being involved in rape, money laundering, disguising or concealing the proceeds of crime, illegally holding firearms, offering loans at high interests, forging official and enterprise seals, introducing women into prostitution and taking bribes.

Several other public security officials are also being prosecuted for protecting gangs, including Wen's accomplice, Peng Changjian, former Deputy Director of Chongqing Public Security Bureau, and Guo Sheng, former Deputy Chief of Huangnibang Police Station in the city's Yubei District.