Three gang leaders were sentenced to death yesterday and three others got the ultimate penalty - with a two-year reprieve - as courts in Chongqing municipality began a series of organized-crime trials.

Yang Tianqing, 35, was given the death sentence after he was convicted of murder, assault, extortion, coercive business practices and other charges linked to "mafia-style gang" operations, according to a statement issued by the No 1 Intermediate People's Court in China's most populous city.

"This organization illegally controlled the Yubei district ... carried out illegal criminal activities against land and construction developers and coerced ordinary people. Their influence has been odious," the court said on its website.