China Narrows Fugitive World By Signing Extradition Treaties With 39 Countries

Mar 21, 2015 06:53 AM EDT

(Photo : Reuters) Chinese fugitive Lai Changxing is escorted back to Beijing from Canada, at Beijing International Airport July 23, 2011. Interpol has arrest warrants for 69 Chinese wanted on charges of corruption, embezzlement, fraud and bribery, according to a Reuters analysis of its public database. Lai, once China's most-wanted fugitive, fled to Canada with his family in 1999 and claimed refugee status after saying allegations that he ran a multi-billion-dollar smuggling operation in the southeastern city of Xiamen were politically motivated. After a Canadian court rejected Lai's application for refugee status, dismissing concerns he could be tortured or executed if sent home, Lai was deported, but not extradited, in 2011. He was jailed for life the following year.

The other day, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted a former Chinese official and his wife who fled to the United States with millions of money earned from corruption. Although the indictment indicates the support of Washington to Beijing's anti-corruption drive, the lack of an extradition treaty makes the work harder to catch absconding and corrupt officials and return them to China to face charges.

Like Us on Facebook

In a bid to catch more fugitives who fled overseas with money earned illegally, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China said that it has inked extradition treaties with 39 nations. It has also signed 52 more judicial assistance treaties, 124 agreements or memoranda of understanding in cooperation on procuratorial affairs with 191 countries, regions and international organizations, reports China.org.

China also has police cooperation with 189 countries and deployed 62 police liaison officers to 36 Chinese embassies in 31 countries.

Because of these arrangements, China has brought back over 500 fugitives who thought they could escape justice by fleeing abroad. Beijing also recovered more than 3 billion yuan of ill-gotten gains, according to the CCDI.

Extradition is just one method of hunting for these fugitives. Other ways include repatriation of illegal immigrants, offsite prosecution and persuasion.

To claw back the money, the CCDI taps judicial assistance and extradition treaties, foreign laws and civil procedures. It also uses Chinese law, regulations and relevant policies.

In December 2014, CCDI also put in place an online reporting system on its website that accepts tips from Asia, Europe and the Americans and letters from overseas to help China hunt for those fugitives from law.