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One China's court has handed down death sentences to several top figures of a well-known Burmese mafia to capital punishment as Beijing persists in its efforts on scam activities in the region.

Overall, twenty-one Bai family members and associates were found guilty of fraud, homicide, assault and various crimes, said a state media announcement posted on the court website.

This clan is one of a few of syndicates that gained influence in the 2000s and converted the impoverished backwater town of Laukkaing into a lucrative center of gambling establishments and red-light districts.

In recent years they pivoted to scams in which many of trafficked workers, several of them Chinese, are trapped, abused and compelled to cheat others in criminal activities valued at huge sums.

Details of the Verdict

Syndicate leader Bai Suocheng and his offspring the younger Bai were included in the several men condemned to capital punishment by the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court. Yang Liqiang, Hu Xiaojiang and Chen Guangyi were the other three convicted.

A couple of individuals of the Bai family syndicate were given suspended death sentences. Five were sentenced to life in prison, while nine others were given jail sentences varying from three to 20 years.

This family, who led their own private army, established 41 facilities to accommodate their cyberscam activities and betting establishments, officials said.

Scale of Unlawful Activities

These illegal enterprises involved more than 29 billion Chinese yuan ($4.1bn; over three billion pounds). These activities also led to the demise of several from China nationals, the suicide of an individual and numerous injuries, reports stated.

The harsh punishments delivered by the judicial body are part of the Chinese campaign to eradicate the large fraud rings in Southeast Asia - and deliver a stern message to further criminal groups.

Background of the Clans

Such families rose to power in the 2000s with the support of a prominent figure - who currently heads the country's regime. The leader had intended to support allies in Laukkaing after removing its former warlord.

Within the groups, the this family were "absolutely number one", Bai Yingcang previously told official sources.

"At that time, our Bai family was the most powerful in each of the political and military arenas," the individual stated in a film about the clan, broadcast on official channels in the summer.

In the same film, a worker at a their scam centres described the mistreatment he had experienced there: besides being assaulted, he had his nails extracted with tools and a couple of his digits amputated with a blade.

More Allegations

The son is included in those who were condemned to death this week. The individual has additionally been independently found guilty of conspiring to trade and make 11 tonnes of narcotics, reports announced.

Decline of the Groups

Their end came in recent times as situations changed.

Over a long period Beijing has encouraged the regime to limit fraudulent activities in Laukkaing.

Last year, the law enforcement issued detention orders for the leading figures of such families.

The patriarch, the clan's head, was among the figures who were transferred to China from Myanmar in the beginning of the year.

For what reason is the Chinese government putting significant resources to go after the four families?" a official stated in the summer film.

This serves as a warning other people, no matter your identity, your base, if you commit these serious offenses affecting the citizens, you will be held accountable."