The sacked deputy chief of Shanyang County's public security bureau in Shaanxi Province, He Qi, has admitted to his crimes in court.

He and 13 members of his gang are facing trial in the city of Shangluo for running a prostitution racket, detaining people illegally, extortion and blackmail, drug trafficking, robbery, embezzlement and destroying accounts.

The trial of He and his gang members entered its third day yesterday, and the hearing was expected to last nine days because the case was complicated and involved many people.

"The gang committed 52 crimes since 1998 and amassed wealth worth more than 1.6 million yuan ($200,000), victimizing 26 policemen, officials, entrepreneurs and farmers," the court indictment said.

He, 49, began running the prostitution racket in 1998 when he was chief officer of a local police station. He organized the other 13 defendants later to commit the crimes. His abuse of power continued as he moved up the seniority ladder, the prosecutor told the court.

The 13 other defendants are local residents, aged between 23 and 39, and don't hold formal jobs.

He was arrested on August 4, 2005, and the other defendants were picked up around that time, too.

He's crimes are all the more damaging for society because he was a police officer, the prosecutor said.

Local people said He terrorized the local people, especially because the power he wielded as a police officer. They said they hoped the court would hand down the severest punishments to him and his henchmen so that they could feel safe once again.

Source: China Daily