Mo Huanjing, a woman who started a fire that killed four members of a family in 2017 in East China's Zhejiang Province was executed on Friday.

(Photo: Mo Huanjing)

Mo's death sentence has been reviewed and approved by the Supreme People's Court (SPC), the country's top court, according to the Hangzhou Intermediate People's Court.

Before the execution, the Hangzhou court notified Mo's close relatives of the right to a meeting, which they forfeited.

"Mo's motive was abhorrent, highly vicious and dangerous to others. The consequences of the crime were severe and detrimental to public safety," said the SPC.

Despite Mo's confession to the arson after her arrest, the nature and severity of the crime, as well as its social consequences, did not support granting leniency for her, said the SPC.

"The evidence was factual and sufficient, and the sentencing was appropriate," the SPC ruled.

Mo was a gambling addict and had long been in debt. She started working as a nanny for the family of Lin Shengbin in September 2016. From March 2017 to June 2017, she stole jewelry and watches from the family worth more than 180,000 yuan. She also borrowed 114,000 yuan from Lin's wife Zhu to "purchase a house", but gambled the money away.

On June 22, 2017, Mo decided to further gain Zhu's trust by lighting a fire and putting it out. However the fire spread quickly, and Zhu and her three children died of carbon monoxide poisoning. The fire also caused losses equal to nearly 2.6 million yuan (410,000 USD).

Mo escaped from the apartment and called the police.

(With input from Xinhua)