5th most wanted Chinese fugitive returns after 15 years

By Mahmut Atanur

BEIJING (AA) - The fifth most wanted fugitive on China’s Interpol list has returned from New Zealand after 15 years on the run, according to state media Saturday.

China Radio International (CRI) reported that Yan Yongming, former director of Tonghua Golden-Horse Pharmaceutical Group, came back to China to “confess his crime” after returning “a huge sum of illicit money” and paying “a great amount of fines”.

His return brings the number of fugitives on the 100 most wanted list who have been repatriated to 36, according to the Communist Party of China’s top anti-graft watchdog the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI).

Yan, who was suspected of committing occupational crimes such as position misappropriation, fled to Australia in November 2001 and then New Zealand.

CRI reported that China is “deeply grateful for the efficient and effective cooperation” with both countries.

Last month, the Ministry of Public Security revealed that 634 fugitives were repatriated this year.

Ministry data shows that a record number of 857 fugitives were seized from 66 countries and regions last year.

The CCDI revealed in July that 381 fugitives from more than 40 countries and regions had been repatriated in the first half of this year, with 1.24 billion yuan ($186 million) in assets recovered.