Former mining tycoon Liu Han was given the death penalty on Friday on charges including murder and leading mafia-style gangs.

Liu, former chairman of Hanlong Group, the biggest private enterprise in Sichuan province, was tried with 35 other suspects at seven courts in Xianning, Hubei province. The 17-day trial started on March 31.

It was the largest criminal group of its kind to be tried in China in recent years.