Gangster’s Homecoming Party Lands Him in Jail After Three Days

A notorious crime lord in northern China’s Shanxi Province was back in the slammer again just three days after being released from detention after a high-profile welcome party was held to celebrate his release, local authorities said on Wednesday.

Jincheng City police arrested Cheng Youzhe and nine other suspects on charges of "causing social chaos" after more than 100 men, dressed in black and riding in at least 56 luxury vehicles, were spotted outside the heavily guarded prison where Cheng was to be released on May 23, according to the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post.

The men gathered outside the prison gate, where they set off 20-meter firecrackers to ward off bad luck, the Post reported on Sunday.

Footage of the incident posted online showed Cheng, in a white shirt and trousers and a pair of sunglasses, being flanked by the black-clad men while slowly walking outside the prison and into a procession of Hummers, Ranger Rovers, and Mercedes Benz sedans.

Just a couple of yards away from the crowd of greeters, a dozen of armed prison officers were seen standing side by side to guard the prison gate.

After the ceremony in the morning, Cheng hosted an extravagant banquet luncheon at a local five-star hotel that was joined by hundreds of guests, according to several local media reports.

Cheng, 52, was imprisoned for the third time in his life in 2009 after being convicted of gambling and breaking other laws during a crackdown on gang activity in the city. He was previously jailed for robbery and gambling in 1984 and 2004, according to the Global Times.

The party for Cheng's release drew criticism not only from the public but also from authorities after pictures and video footage of the event spread on social media.

The Jincheng Public Security Bureau vowed on Wednesday that they would investigate the case and clamp down on the "rampant arrogance" of the criminals.