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China vows to hunt down officials who sheltered Liu Han's 'mafia gang' China vows to hunt down officials who sheltered Liu Han's 'mafia gang'
(about 2 hours later)
Chinese authorities will hunt down the officials who gave protection to a "mafia-style" gang run by a former mining magnate charged with crimes ranging from murder to gun-running.Chinese authorities will hunt down the officials who gave protection to a "mafia-style" gang run by a former mining magnate charged with crimes ranging from murder to gun-running.
Liu Han - the former chairman of Hanlong Mining, which attempted to take over Australia's Sundance Resources Ltd - led his gang on a crime spree for more than a decade in China's southwestern province of Sichuan, state media said. Liu Han – the former chairman of Hanlong Mining, which attempted to take over Australia's Sundance Resources Ltd – led his gang on a crime spree for more than a decade in China's south-western province of Sichuan, state media said.
The investigation into Liu is one of the most high-profile cases against a private businessman since President Xi Jinping came to power last year, vowing to battle corruption.The investigation into Liu is one of the most high-profile cases against a private businessman since President Xi Jinping came to power last year, vowing to battle corruption.
Liu would not have been able to get away with his crimes if he had not enjoyed the protection of "certain party, government and legal bodies", said the People's Daily, the official newspaper of the ruling Communist Party.Liu would not have been able to get away with his crimes if he had not enjoyed the protection of "certain party, government and legal bodies", said the People's Daily, the official newspaper of the ruling Communist Party.
"As the case progresses, the umbrella of protection will be revealed to the public, and (they) will be severely punished by the law," it added. "As the case progresses, the umbrella of protection will be revealed to the public, and [they] will be severely punished by the law," it added.
"No matter who you are or what your position is, if you break the law you will be punished by the law.""No matter who you are or what your position is, if you break the law you will be punished by the law."
Sichuan - where Liu's company, Hanlong Mining, is based - has been a target of Xi's crackdown, mostly because it was a power base for Zhou Yongkang, the retired former domestic security tsar now being investigated for graft. Sichuan, where Liu's company, Hanlong Mining, is based, has been a target of Xi's crackdown, mostly because it was a power base for Zhou Yongkang, the retired former domestic security tsar now being investigated for graft.
Official media have not directly linked the case with Zhou, but have alluded to possible ties, as Liu's rise coincided with Zhou's time as Sichuan's Communist Party boss. Official media have not directly linked the case with Zhou, but have alluded to possible ties, as Liu's rise coincided with Zhou's time as Sichuan's Communist party boss.
"Liu Han became widely connected to government officials in his search for an ever-more powerful 'umbrella'," said the official Xinhua news agency. "The news of the prosecutions has sent tremors through Sichuan's political and business circles.""Liu Han became widely connected to government officials in his search for an ever-more powerful 'umbrella'," said the official Xinhua news agency. "The news of the prosecutions has sent tremors through Sichuan's political and business circles."
The party has yet to make an announcement about Zhou's case. Sources told Reuters he is effectively under house arrest. The party has yet to make an announcement about Zhou's case. Sources told Reuters he is effectively under house arrest.
Several of Zhou's men have been felled, including Jiang Jiemin, briefly top regulator of state-owned enterprises, and former Vice Minister of Public Security Li Dongsheng. Several of Zhou's men have been felled, including Jiang Jiemin, briefly top regulator of state-owned enterprises, and former vice-minister of public security Li Dongsheng.
Hanlong could not be reached for comment. It was also not possible to reach Liu - ranked as China's 230th richest person by the Shanghai-based Hurun 2012 Report - for comment. Hanlong could not be reached for comment. It was also not possible to reach Liu – ranked as China's 230th richest person by the Shanghai-based Hurun 2012 Report – for comment.
Hanlong has a majority stake in Australian-listed iron ore miner Moly Mines and remains the biggest shareholder of Sundance Resources, although its proposed A$1.4-billion (£756 million) takeover of Africa-focused Sundance was called off last April after Hanlong missed funding deadlines.Hanlong has a majority stake in Australian-listed iron ore miner Moly Mines and remains the biggest shareholder of Sundance Resources, although its proposed A$1.4-billion (£756 million) takeover of Africa-focused Sundance was called off last April after Hanlong missed funding deadlines.
Liu founded Hanlong Group, a conglomerate in sectors from solar energy to real estate and infrastructure, in 1997.Liu founded Hanlong Group, a conglomerate in sectors from solar energy to real estate and infrastructure, in 1997.