Criminal suspects who turn themselves in by December 1 will be given a mitigated punishment or exempted from punishment, said police in Fuzhou.

A man surnamed Lin (Center), who is suspected of fraud cases worth 3.8 million yuan, is escorted by police from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Fuzhou, Fujian province. [Photo/ people.com.cn]

The statement is in line with an announcement by central authorities who urged overseas Chinese suspects of economic criminal offenses to surrender.

The announcement, issued jointly by China’s top court, top procuratorate, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Oct 10, stated that those embroiled in economic crimes can get a lighter sentence if they give themselves up.

Fuzhou intensified its crackdown on overseas Chinese economic criminals this year. It succeeded in arresting or admonishing four of them through a special 6-month operation called “Fox Hunting”, said police on Nov 3.