50th fugitive nabbed in worldwide manhunt

Beijing: A global campaign to catch China’s most-wanted fugitives saw the return of its 50th corruption suspect, the top anti-graft watchdog said.

The milestone was achieved with the detention of Zhou Jiyang, 47, who has been on the run in Hong Kong for nine years, according to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI).

He was among 100 Chinese fugitives for whom Interpol issued red notices international arrest warrants in April 2015.

Zhou is accused of committing fraud while working for the Party history research department of the Zhejiang provincial committee of the Communist Party of China.

The CCDI said he fled to Hong Kong after being placed under investigation in 2008.

He was detained by Zhejiang police last Friday and his ill-gotten assets will be confiscated according to the law.

The case is still under investigation, the CCDI said in a statement on Tuesday.

Since April 2015, half of the 100 corrupt fugitives have been brought back from more than 16 countries and regions to stand trial, which fully reflects “China’s firm determination and resolute confidence to pursue the fugitives to the end”, the CCDI said.

In recent years, a number of Chinese corrupt officials and directors from state-owned companies have fled to Hong Kong, Macau or overseas destinations to take advantage of the difference in laws or complicated repatriation procedures. — China Daily/Asia News Network