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One Chinese judicial body has sentenced a group of top figures of an infamous Myanmar mafia to death as Beijing continues its crackdown on scam networks in the region.

Overall, twenty-one clan members and associates were convicted of fraud, homicide, injury and other offenses, said a official document released on the court portal.

The group is one of a few of organized crime groups that gained influence in the last two decades and transformed the poor backwater town of Laukkaing into a wealthy center of casinos and entertainment zones.

Over the past few years they turned to fraudulent schemes in which thousands of smuggled individuals, many of them from China, are caught, mistreated and compelled to defraud others in unlawful activities worth billions of dollars.

Details of the Verdict

Syndicate boss Bai Suocheng and his offspring the younger Bai were among the five men sentenced to capital punishment by the judicial body. Another individual, A third figure and A fourth person were the remaining sentenced.

A couple of figures of the Bai family mafia were given delayed executions. Several were given to permanent incarceration, while more figures were received jail terms varying from three to 20 years.

The Bais, who led their own militia, established forty-one compounds to house their digital scam activities and betting establishments, authorities stated.

Extent of Criminal Schemes

These illegal enterprises included over 29 billion local currency ($4.1 billion; £3.1 billion). They also caused the deaths of several from China nationals, the self-inflicted death of an individual and several assaults, state media stated.

The harsh penalties issued by the judicial body are within China's campaign to remove the vast scam networks in South East Asia - and deliver a strong signal to additional illegal groups.

Context of the Clans

These groups rose to power in the recent decades with the assistance of a military leader - who is in charge of Myanmar's junta. The leader had wanted to prop up allies in Laukkaing after removing its earlier ruler.

Within the groups, the Bais were "the most powerful", Bai Yingcang earlier informed state media.

Back then, our Bai family was the leading in each of the government and military spheres," the individual said in a film about the clan, broadcast on Chinese state media in the summer.

Within that film, a employee at their fraud facilities recalled the harm he had endured there: in addition to being beaten, he had his nails removed with instruments and two of his digits amputated with a blade.

Additional Accusations

The son is included in those who were condemned to execution in the latest ruling. The individual has also been separately convicted of planning to trade and manufacture 11 tonnes of illegal drugs, reports reported.

End of the Groups

The families' end happened in last year as circumstances altered.

Over a long period Chinese authorities has encouraged the Myanmar junta to rein in scam operations in Laukkaing.

Recently, the law enforcement released arrest warrants for the leading figures of such families.

Bai Suocheng, the Bai family's patriarch, was among the individuals who were handed to Beijing from the country in recent months.

For what reason is the Chinese government putting significant resources to pursue the groups?" a official said in the July film.

The purpose is to caution other people, no matter who you are, where you are, as long as you engage in these terrible offenses targeting the Chinese people, you will face consequences."