In the first six months of this year, a total of 582 fugitives were repatriated to China, including 25 individuals who were on the “Red Notice” list. Additionally, one person from the list of “100 Most-Wanted Red Notice Fugitives” was also successfully apprehended. The recovered amount of illicit funds during this period amounted to approximately 1.932 billion Chinese Yuan (CNY).
“Red Notice” refers to individuals who have been listed in the international arrest warrants by Interpol, while the “100 Most-Wanted Red Notice Fugitives” specifically targets Chinese nationals involved in criminal activities, including government officials and individuals connected to significant corruption cases.
Under the “Sky Net 2023” operation, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission have been actively involved in establishing a comprehensive mechanism for pursuing fugitives and recovering illicit assets. The focus has been on apprehending the “100 Most-Wanted Red Notice Fugitives” and other recent fugitives. By precisely formulating strategies and intensifying efforts on individual cases, significant progress has been made.
Notably, on June 10th, one of the “100 Most-Wanted Red Notice Fugitives,” Guo Jiefang, voluntarily surrendered to authorities, becoming the 62nd person from the list to do so since the launch of the “Sky Net” operation. She also marked the first individual from the list to return to China in the last two decades. The efforts to bring her back not only led to her voluntary return but also resulted in the successful recovery of her ill-gotten gains, as per the law.
Furthermore, in the case of Wang Dongsheng, the former director of Shandong Provincial Highway Bureau, who returned to China and turned himself in on February 12th, the authorities froze and confiscated his assets related to the case. Similarly, on February 24th, the Shanghai Second Intermediate People’s Court applied the procedure for confiscating illegal gains, ordering the seizure of properties acquired by Red Notice fugitive Feng Weihua through corrupt practices, bribery, and misappropriation of public funds, with a total value of nearly 400 million CNY.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission emphasized their commitment to international cooperation in combating corruption. In recent times, they successfully repatriated individuals involved in crimes like Lin Zhifang, Wu Moumou, and Feng Moumou. Furthermore, Li Xi’an, the former director of the Xi’an Grain Bureau in Shaanxi Province, who had been on the run for less than two months, was arrested and brought back to China, showcasing the growing maturity of legal measures used in pursuing fugitives.
With the implementation of Chapter 4 of the “Foreign Relations Law” on July 1st, which focuses on “Foreign Relations System,” it was clearly stipulated that China will deepen and expand its mechanisms for international law enforcement cooperation, improve the system for judicial assistance, and enhance international cooperation in law enforcement and justice to combat transnational crime and corruption. This provides crucial legal foundations for China’s ongoing efforts in international cooperation against corruption and fugitive recovery.
The officials from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission expressed their commitment to further deepening international cooperation in anti-corruption efforts. They stated that they will persist in the principle of “no escape and no let-up” and maintain high pressure on fugitive recovery, ensuring that no corrupt fugitive will evade justice.