KUNMING, China, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- An alleged head of a Myanmar drug gang, accused in the killings 13 Chinese sailors, denied any knowledge of the incident during a trial in China.
The accusations relate to an alleged attack in October 2011 on the Mekong River in which the sailors died, the China Daily reported.
Facing trial in a Chinese court in Kunming, capital of southwest Yunnan province, were Naw Kham, alleged leader of the gang, and five others, identified only as foreigners or stateless, the report said.
Naw Kham told the court he knew nothing about the attack and denied plotting the attack on two Chinese cargo ships near a Thai port on the Mekong River. The report said the six face charges of intentional homicide, drug trafficking, kidnapping and hijacking.
China Daily said Naw Kham had allegedly confessed to the killings in a media interview but recanted in court.
Naw Kham, however, admitted to being the gang's leader, the report said, adding he had been known as "The Godfather" for allegedly running an armed drug ring on the Mekong River near the China-Myanmar-Laos border.
The alleged gang was broken up earlier this year in a joint operation by police from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, the report said, adding the other suspects had confessed in court and expressed regret.
"It is uncommon for foreigners who commit crimes against Chinese nationals outside China to be brought to justice before a Chinese court," a court official was quoted as telling reporters before the trial.
