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| Chinese tycoon Liu Han sentenced to death for murder | Chinese tycoon Liu Han sentenced to death for murder |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Liu Han, a Chinese tycoon believed to have links to China's former security chief Zhou Yongkang, has been sentenced to death. | Liu Han, a Chinese tycoon believed to have links to China's former security chief Zhou Yongkang, has been sentenced to death. |
| A Hubei court has found Liu Han and his brother Liu Wei guilty of "organising and leading mafia-style crime and murder", reports Xinhua. | A Hubei court has found Liu Han and his brother Liu Wei guilty of "organising and leading mafia-style crime and murder", reports Xinhua. |
| The two men were among a group of 36 people charged with similar crimes. | The two men were among a group of 36 people charged with similar crimes. |
| Liu Han's sentencing is believed to be part of a wider corruption crackdown linked to Zhou's network. | Liu Han's sentencing is believed to be part of a wider corruption crackdown linked to Zhou's network. |
| The court verdict stated that, among other things, Liu Han and his group had "in an organised fashion obtained financial gains via illegal activities". | The court verdict stated that, among other things, Liu Han and his group had "in an organised fashion obtained financial gains via illegal activities". |
| They had also on multiple occasions "committed murder, harm and illegal detention". | They had also on multiple occasions "committed murder, harm and illegal detention". |
| The verdict stated they relied on "the cover-ups and collusion of government employees" to illegally control gaming machines in Guanghan in Sichuan province. | |
| Liu, who is the former head of mining conglomerate Sichuan Hanlong Group, was ranked 148th on Forbes' list of the richest Chinese business people in 2012. | Liu, who is the former head of mining conglomerate Sichuan Hanlong Group, was ranked 148th on Forbes' list of the richest Chinese business people in 2012. |
| His former company once tried to take over Australian miner Sundance Resources Ltd. | His former company once tried to take over Australian miner Sundance Resources Ltd. |
| Chinese state media said previously that the Sichuan-based gang had had strong political ties that played a role in Liu Han's appointment as a delegate in Sichuan's political advisory body. | Chinese state media said previously that the Sichuan-based gang had had strong political ties that played a role in Liu Han's appointment as a delegate in Sichuan's political advisory body. |
| In recent months, several top officials from Sichuan province linked to Zhou Yongkang have come under scrutiny. | In recent months, several top officials from Sichuan province linked to Zhou Yongkang have come under scrutiny. |
| Mr Zhou was the party secretary in Sichuan province before becoming head of China's Public Security Ministry in 2003. | Mr Zhou was the party secretary in Sichuan province before becoming head of China's Public Security Ministry in 2003. |
| In April, China announced it had removed from office Guo Yongxiang, a former Sichuan vice-governor, and that Sichuan's former deputy party chief Li Chuncheng was being investigated for bribery. | In April, China announced it had removed from office Guo Yongxiang, a former Sichuan vice-governor, and that Sichuan's former deputy party chief Li Chuncheng was being investigated for bribery. |
| Speculation has swirled for months that Mr Zhou is being investigated for corruption, although none of the rumours have been confirmed officially. | Speculation has swirled for months that Mr Zhou is being investigated for corruption, although none of the rumours have been confirmed officially. |