Thirty-one people went on trial Monday on charges of gang-related crimes in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.

 

The hearing, which is expected to last five days at the Chongqing No. 5 Intermediate People's Court, is one of a series of organized crime trials resulting from investigations into 14 alleged organized crime gangs in the city.

 

Li Qiang, a wealthy businessman and former deputy to the Chongqing Municipal People's Congress, who was alleged to be the gang leader, faces nine charges, including organizing and leading criminal gangs, disrupting public transportation, disturbing public order, concealing account books, bribery and tax evasion.

 

Li admitted in court charges of operating illegal businesses and concealing account books.

 

He denied organizing and leading criminal gangs, saying he was not aware of the facts on the indictment or he was only informed by subordinates after the alleged facts occurred.

 

Li, handcuffed and wearing bright orange vest with the number 01, had four companies under his name and controlled more than 100 bus routes in Chongqing. The four companies, mainly involving transportation and real estate, also face charges of illegal operations and tax evasion.

 

Another 20 alleged gang members were charged with participating in criminal organizations, disrupting public transportation, and murder.

 

Three former civil servants were accused of concealing Li's alleged gang-related crimes and taking bribes.

 

The former officials are Xiao Qinglong, director of the Communication and Transportation Administration of Shapingba District of Chongqing, Jiang Hong, director of the Road Transport Administration of Banan District of Chongqing, and Jiang Chunyan, director of a complaints office under the Chongqing municipal government.

 

Seven other people were charged with concealing account books, disrupting public transportation, disrupting public order and illegal business operations.

 

Thirty local lawmakers and political advisors observed the trial Monday. The defendants are represented by 40 lawyers.

 

A spokesman for the municipal procuratorate said 700 people had been arrested this year in connection with gang-related crimes in Chongqing.

 

Fifty others, including 28 judicial and police officers, had been investigated on suspicion of abusing their authority, including allegations of corruption, malfeasance and infringing people's rights, he said.

 

Among them were Li Hanbin, commander of the first detachment of the municipal criminal police unit, and Wen Qiang, former director of the municipal judicial administrative bureau and former executive deputy director of the municipal police department.