More than 20 members of an alleged mafia-style group stood trial on Wednesday in China's southern Guangdong province for several criminal charges, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Li Guoqiang, also known as 'Tau Strong,' together with 22 other individuals were accused of leading, organizing and taking part in a mafia-style Guangzhou gang that was involved in criminal activities from 1998 to 2013.

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Their case was heard on Wednesday in the Maoming Intermediate People's Court.

Thirty-six-year-old Li was purportedly the gang's leader who organized crimes such as assaults, murders, robberies and kidnappings for nearly 15 years in Guangzhou and Dianbai County.

The gang leader gradually gained his fortune by blackmailing, running gambling establishments and loan sharking.

Among their victims were Shao Zhencai, a well-known political counsel, and Shao Zhenfeng, his brother, who allegedly had business disputes with the group. The two were left gravely injured from the assault that took place on April 4, 2013, according to authorities.

The group also allegedly gunned down two unnamed individuals in 2004.

A total of two people were reported dead while 13 others were injured during the group's reign of terror. Five among the wounded victims are in critical condition.

The trial was expected to take three days, according to Xinhua.

Gang-related trials have taken place several times in the last few years in Guangzhou. American businessman Vincent Wu was charged in February for allegedly heading up a mob that kidnapped rivals and operated illegal gaming operations. He confessed, but later claimed he had been tortured to obtain the confession.

The last major Guangzhou gang trial took place in late 2012 when 44 members of a major criminal gang headed by Huang Jiantang, 44, were charged with running illegal casinos in suburban Conghua where they lived. They also were charged with using force to gain government bids in construction jobs and interfering with local village elections.

TagsMafia, gang, court, trial, Guangdong Province, China courts, justice, illegal gambling, gambling