XIANNING, Hubei, Aug. 7 -- A court in central China's Hubei Province on Thursday rejected the appeal of former mining tycoon Liu Han who was sentenced to death in May.

Liu Han, his brother Liu Wei and 34 other defendants were convicted of organizing, leading or participating in a mafia-style gang as well as murder in May.

Both the Liu brothers and three other defendants were sentenced to death. Another five were sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, four to life imprisonment and 22 to imprisonment of different terms.