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One China's court has sentenced five top figures of an infamous Burmese mafia to capital punishment as Beijing persists in its campaign on fraudulent networks in South East Asia.

In all, 21 clan members and associates were convicted of fraud, homicide, assault and additional offenses, reported a state media document published on the judicial portal.

This clan is one of a small number of mafias that rose to power in the 2000s and converted the underdeveloped remote area of the town into a wealthy center of casinos and nightlife areas.

In recent years they shifted to fraudulent schemes in which thousands of smuggled individuals, a large number of them Chinese, are ensnared, harmed and forced to cheat victims in illegal operations valued at huge sums.

Specifics of the Verdict

Syndicate head the patriarch and his son the younger Bai were included in the five figures condemned to capital punishment by the court in Shenzhen. Another individual, A third figure and A fourth person were the additional sentenced.

Two individuals of the clan syndicate were handed suspended death sentences. Several were sentenced to permanent incarceration, while more figures were handed prison sentences between a period of 3-20 years.

The clan, who led their own militia, set up 41 facilities to accommodate their digital scam activities and gambling houses, officials said.

Extent of Illegal Schemes

Such illegal operations included exceeding twenty-nine billion Chinese yuan ($4.1 billion; over three billion pounds). They also resulted in the fatalities of six from China nationals, the suicide of one and multiple assaults, official sources announced.

The harsh penalties delivered by the judicial body are part of the Chinese campaign to eliminate the vast fraud rings in the region - and send a strong signal to other illegal groups.

Background of the Families

These groups gained influence in the 2000s with the support of a military leader - who is in charge of the country's junta. He had intended to bolster partners in the town after replacing its previous ruler.

Among the groups, the this family were "the most powerful", the son earlier stated to official sources.

Back then, we was the dominant in both the government and military circles," he remarked in a documentary about the Bai family, aired on Chinese state media in the summer.

During the film, a employee at their fraud facilities recalled the mistreatment he had endured at the location: besides being assaulted, he had his fingernails yanked out with tools and two of his digits cut off with a tool.

Further Accusations

Bai Yingcang is among those who were sentenced to death recently. He has also been independently sentenced of planning to smuggle and manufacture eleven tons of illegal drugs, state media stated.

Decline of the Clans

The families' end came in last year as political winds changed.

Previously Beijing has urged the Myanmar junta to control scam operations in the area.

Last year, the Chinese police issued arrest warrants for the leading members of such families.

Bai Suocheng, the Bai family's patriarch, was included in the individuals who were extradited to China from the country in the beginning of the year.

For what reason is the authorities making so much effort to target the four families?" a official said in the July report.

The purpose is to caution other people, regardless of your identity, your location, when you engage in these heinous crimes affecting the Chinese people, you will be held accountable."