Fugitive wanted in China nabbed
THE BUREAU of Immigration (BI) and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) on Wednesday handed over to Chinese police authorities a Chinese fugitive arrested on Jan. 13 for alleged economic crimes and corruption.
Xie Haojie, 49, a former general manager of a Chinese state-owned enterprise, was nabbed by agents of the BI Fugitive Search Unit in a condominium in Pasay City.
According to BI Commissioner Jaime H. Morente, Mr. Xie fled to the country in March last year.
La Yifan, director for international cooperation of China’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, said in a press conference that evidence had been gathered indicating that Mr. Xie breached the public trust, embezzled government funds, and took bribes.
The PACC said it met with Mr. La and vicechairman Li Shulei of China’s National Supervisory Commission in Beijing last December after they sought the Philippines’ assistance in capturing the fugitive.
Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua thanked the PACC and BI for “their high efficiency in capturing the fugitive.”
“It clearly demonstrates the determination of both sides to further cementing our cooperation in anti-corruption,” he said.
“Through this successful cooperation in capturing the fugitive, I can see a promising future in our... efforts in cracking down corruption. And I’m sure the anti-corruption cooperation and law enforcement cooperation in cracking down on all kinds of transnational crimes will become an even more important part of our bilateral relations,” he added.
PACC Executive Director Eduardo V. Bringas, in a statement, said the cooperation with China will enable easier access to information when similar crimes occur. “The mutual cooperation with the Chinese government will further allow the Commission better and faster access to information involving such officials.”
PACC Chairman Dante L. Jimenez, for his part, said, “Lastly, let me warn all foreign fugitives hiding in the ph[hilippines], the law will catch up w[ith] you including coddlers in various agencies. The commission likewise assures the public that those coddling such persons will be investigated according to existing laws.”