GUANGHAN, China, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Authorities in China accused billionaire Liu Han and his brother of running a mafia-style gang that has members charged with nine murders and other crimes.

Prosecutors in the People's Procuratorate in Hubei Province on Thursday filed charges against 36 people in all, including Liu Han, the New York Times reported Friday.


The charges encompass 21 crimes, including murder and intentional injury.

Liu Han is a businessman and philanthropist worth $6.57 billion and is suspected of being the mastermind behind the criminal organization, which also includes his brother, Liu Wei, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported Thursday.

Liu Wei was accused of allegedly ordering the shooting deaths of three people at a teahouse in Guanghan in 2009, the Times said. He went into hiding after the slayings and Liu Han was later arrested after he said he helped his brother evade capture.