A Chinese court sentenced 16 people linked to a notorious Myanmar-based telecoms fraud group to death on Monday for crimes including fraud, drug trafficking and prostitution. Those activities – encompassing telecoms fraud, gambling operations, drug trafficking and organised prostitution – involved more than 10 billion yuan (US$1.4 billion). The Ming family, along with other criminal groups, “killed and injured people involved in fraud who tried to escape or disobeyed them”, according to the report. Telecom fraud suspects arrested in Myanmar are handed over to Chinese police on November 16, 2023. Photo: China’s Ministry of Public SecurityFive of those sentenced to death were given a two-year reprieve, after which sentences may be commuted to life imprisonment.