One of mafia-involved brothers pleads guilty

Liu Wei (front, central), the younger brother of the alleged mafia leader Liu Han, pleads guilty at the trail involving him and other six gang members. [Photo / Hubei Daily]

Liu Wei, the younger brother of the alleged mafia leader Liu Han, pled guilty on Wednesday when the trail of the case involving him and other six gang members ended in central China.

In his final statement, Liu thanked the court for having given him every right and said that he is willing to accept penalties for the crimes that he had committed.

Six other defendants also regretted their criminal deeds and said they hope the court will be lenient to them.

The judgment will be announced on another day, according to the Xianning Intermediate People's Court in central China's Hubei Province.

The trial on his brother Liu Han, former mining tycoon in southwest China's Sichuan Province, is still ongoing.

The trail of Liu Han case have finished court investigation procedures and will enter court debate phase from Thursday, the court announced, implicating the trial is also drawing to a close.

Liu Han, Liu Wei and 34 other defendants are accused of massive crimes including murder, organizing and leading a gang, intentional assault, illegal detention, blackmailing, illegally possession of guns and ammunition and defrauding banks of loans, prosecutors said.

The ring, allegedly led by the Liu brothers, is the largest mafia-style criminal group placed on trial in recent years in the country.

They are being simultaneously prosecuted in seven cases, which are connected. The trails began on March 31.