February 4, 2010: Chinese state media say 25 people have been sentenced to death for their roles in nine kidnapping cases.
The state-run Xinhua News Agency says two courts in the southern province of Guangdong handed down the sentences.
The high number of death sentences at once is unusual, though China executes more people than any other country.
In one of the kidnapping for ransom cases, Xinhua says the victim died from violent treatment.
Xinhua says the courts in the provincial capital of Guangzhou also sentenced 26 others to up to 20 years in prison for kidnapping. (Sources: Ap, 04/02/2010)
