Myanmar crime syndicate boss sentenced to death by Chinese court after crimes led to deaths of 6 others

A Chinese court has sentenced five members of a notorious Myanmar crime syndicate, including its leader, Bai Suocheng, to death on Nov. 4 for their involvement in crimes such as fraud, international homicide, and intentional injury.

According to local news agency Xinhua, the group's criminal activities led to the deaths of six Chinese nationals, drove one person to suicide, and injured several others.

The court ruling revealed that 16 members of the Bai family syndicate received various sentences.

Two defendants were given death sentences with a two-year reprieve, five received life imprisonment, and nine others were sentenced to between three and 20 years in prison.

Additional penalties included fines, confiscation of property and deportation.

Group engaged in several criminal activities

According to Xinhua, investigations found that Bai and his associates had established 41 compounds in Myanmar's Kokang region, where they engaged in a wide range of illegal activities, including telecommunications fraud, homicide, coercing prostitution and facilitating illegal border crossings.

One of the defendants sentenced to death was also found guilty of participating in the production and trafficking of around 11 tonnes of methamphetamine.

The court estimated that the total amount of money involved in the syndicate's gambling and fraud operations exceeded 29 billion yuan (S$5.3 billion).

Not the first crime syndicate to be prosecuted

According to South China Morning Post, the verdict reflects Beijing's broader crackdown on transnational crime syndicates based in northern Myanmar that target Chinese nationals and interests.

The Bai family trial began in September, following indictments filed in July.

It came shortly after Chinese state media aired a confession from Wei Huairen, head of another Kokang-based syndicate.

According to China's Ministry of Public Security, the syndicate, which was accused of murder, fraud, kidnapping, running gambling operations, prostitution and drug trafficking, was responsible for the deaths of at least eight Chinese citizens.

In September, 11 members belonging to another Kokang crime group were also handed death sentences for crimes including fraud and murder.

The leader of that syndicate reportedly committed suicide in 2023 after his arrest.

China and Myanmar have recently strengthened cooperation to combat cross-border telecoms crimes and online fraud, which often involves luring Chinese citizens to northern Myanmar and forcing them into criminal labour.

This has sparked growing concern in China, prompting a series of nationwide crackdowns on such crimes.

Top photo from CCTV via The Storm Media