Twins on trial for Chongqing mafia-style gangs

In Chongqing's No 2 Intermediate People's Court, the brothers, aged 23, were accused of organizing and leading a gang, running illegal gambling dens, injuring people, destroying others' possessions and imprisoning people illegally.

The trial, with 24 total defendants, is expected to continue today.

The indictment said the brothers organized a 14-member mafia-style gang in early 2007 and since then have repeatedly committed crimes in the city's Wanzhou district.

The brothers also made a set of rules for their organization. For example, everyone was equipped with knives, newcomers had to "do something bad" to practice courage, and every member got payment in accordance with their "work performance." Also, the members were told to keep quiet when the gang had any trouble, the indictment said.

The twins paid members' salaries and covered other expenditures with the money taken from gambling dens - all in an effort to control the members.

From 2007 to June 2009, the brothers opened mobile gambling dens and maintained order within them by using violence, according to the indictment.