'Snakeheads' jailed after kidnap

'Snakeheads' jailed after kidnap

The gang held their victim captive for two weeks Members of a "snakehead" gang of human traffickers have begun prison sentences totalling 42 years after they kidnapped and tortured a man they claimed owed them money. Manchester Crown Court heard the five men, all from London, subjected their victim to a two-week ordeal during which he was slashed with knives and machetes. The Chinese gang had abducted the 27-year-old from a restaurant in Greater Manchester. Police described their jailing as a breakthrough in the battle against human trafficking from the Far East. Chen Cun Liang's ordeal began when he was abducted at a restaurant where he worked in Wigan before being taken to London. 'Greatly assisted' The court heard on Wednesday that some beatings took place while his family, who the gang claimed owed them £7,000, were listening on the telephone from China. At a press conference, Greater Manchester Police said they had been "greatly assisted" by Chinese authorities who allowed detectives to travel to China during the investigation. The gang beat their victim with knives and machetes Detective Superintendent David Chetwynd said: "The agreement between the Chinese and British authorities who allow Chinese witnesses to give evidence in British courts also played a major part in securing convictions against the offenders." The five men all pleaded guilty to offences including kidnap, blackmail, grievous bodily harm and false imprisonment. Mr Liang was smuggled into the UK through Europe in February last year. He had come from the Fujian province of China to find work after his fishing boat was sunk in a typhoon. Five months later he was snatched at knifepoint from the Spring Deer restaurant, in Tyldesley, by the gang. He was then taken to a house in Manchester's Longsight area where the beatings began. Deportation recommendation The next day he was taken to a gang member's London home where the systematic torture continued for a further 13 days. He was then put on a train back to Manchester after receiving an IOU for the money the gang claimed was owed to them. He Chen, 26, was given three sentences of 13 years to run concurrently for conspiracy to falsely imprison, conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm, and blackmail. Chen Ming Jien, 27, was given 10 years, Zhang Long and Zun Yan Chen, both 22, were both sentenced to eight years, and He Wang, 38, three years, for their part in the abduction. Judge Simon Fawcus recommended that all five men, who admitted their guilt, should be deported after serving their sentences.