Former mining tycoon Liu Han denied a charge of organizing and leading a Mafia-style criminal organization when he appeared in court on Tuesday.

Liu, 49, former chairman of Hanlong Group, the biggest private enterprise in Sichuan province, is being prosecuted on multiple charges, including murder.

He is one of 36 alleged gang members being tried simultaneously at seven courts in Xianning, Hubei province. The trials began on Monday.