Businessman and ex-mining tycoon Liu Han faced trial for the first time at a court in Xianning, Sichuan province for fifteen counts of crimes ranging from illegal detention, assault and murder.

Liu Han, his brother Liu Wei and 34 others stood trial on Monday in what is considered as China's biggest ever prosecution of a syndicate.

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Liu Han was one of China's richest men when he headed the Sichuan Hanlong Group. Forbes magazine placed Liu as number 148 among China's wealthiest in 2012, with an estimated personal fortune of US$650 million.

As Chairman of Sichuan Hanlong, Liu made a daring bid to take over the Australian mining company, Sundance Resources Ltd.

Liu and 35 of his colleagues were charged before the Xianning People's court last February 19 on illegal activities that include blackmail, loans with fraudulent intent, and tampering with financial instruments.

Liu and his brother are also charged with the murder of three people in January 2009 in the city of Guanghan in Sichuan province. Liu Wei was suspected of being directly involved in the murder, described by authorities as "mafia-style execution."

Liu Han reportedly assisted his brother in evading law enforcers and even gave Wei millions of yuan to help him escape from the arms of the law.

The case of Liu and his company is an example of how business in China merged with gang style practices while holding key positions with the Chinese Communist party. President Xi Jinping pledged to clean up the entire system of these corrupt groups.

Besides being a billionaire businessman, Liu was a member of the People's Political Consultative Conference in Sichuan province, who had local party officials working for his personal and business interests.

The 49-year old Liu was born to teacher parents from Guanghan. He started to put up his business in 1997 when he founded the Hanlong Group in Sichuan's Mianyang city. The group has business interests in telecommunications, solar energy, mineral exploration and chemicals.