Beijing: China has sought Interpol’s help to nab 100 fugitives, including 23 women, wanted in major graft cases who are believed to have fled abroad, the latest step in President Xi Jinping’s aggressive campaign against corruption.
Photos of the suspects alongwith their suspected crimes and personal information such as age and hometowns were also published today in the state-run China Daily newspaper.
The list released by Interpol’s National Central Bureau of China has names of 77 men and 23 women allegedly involved in corruption and all are on Interpol’s red notice for international arrest, according to a statement released by the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI).
The list on the CCDI website also contains suspects’ photos, identity cards and visa numbers, possible destinations and the crimes they allegedly committed. “Via Interpol and other channels, China has requested law enforcers in related countries to cooperate to bring these suspects back to justice,” it said. Nearly half of the fugitives, 48 in total, used to be heads of government departments, enterprises and public institution. Over 60 per cent are suspected of bribe taking and embezzlement of funds, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Other fugitives include former police officers, accountants, cashiers and bank officers. Suspected crimes include contract and loan fraud, issuing false value added tax invoices and illegally taking public deposits.
In terms of destinations, the CCDI said that 40 have fled to the US , 26 to Canada, and the rest to New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Singapore, and other countries and regions.
The latest move is part of the “Sky Net”, a campaign to repatriate corruption suspects. Sky Net combines the government, Communist Party, central bank and diplomatic services.
According to the CCDI, those on the list were only a fraction of the targets. (PTI)
“A sky net is being woven. We will cooperate with other countries and mobilise our resources to make these fugitives unwelcome guests and bring them back to justice,” the statement said. President Xi’s war on corruption launched in 2013 has seen thousands of officials, including many powerful military officers, investigated and the arrests of numerous serving heads of state institutions. PTI KJV UZM SUA AKJ SUA 04231516
