Society

Chinese fugitives apprehended in Malaysia

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-06-25 20:47

BEIJING - Two Chinese men wanted on charges of illegally obtaining public funds have been arrested in Malaysia and returned to China after a two-year international manhunt.

Gong Yinwen and Fan Jiecong, who were wanted in connection with "major economic crimes," had been apprehended with the cooperation of police in China and Malaysia, said a statement from China's Ministry of Public Security Friday.

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Chinese police named Gong and Fan as the main suspects in the case that they started to investigate in September 2007.

The ministry, however, did not disclose the exact amount of the funds involved or any other details on the case.

The two suspects went overseas before the investigation started and moved through a series of countries and regions, including the United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, the ministry said.

The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) issued a red notice regarding Gong and Fan at the request of China, after they left the country.

The ministry said China had sent police overseas to assist in the arrest.

The ministry hailed the move as "another success" in increased cooperation with the international community in apprehending fugitives who had allegedly fled abroad.

"No criminal suspect can evade legal punishment where he or she flees," the statement said.