Sky Net captures 3,500 fugitives

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said on Wednesday that since China launched the Sky Net campaign, 3,587 fugitives were brought back from more than 90 countries and regions to face trial, thanks to global judicial efforts.

Meanwhile, Chinese police recovered 9.54 billion yuan in illicit assets through the end of October, according to the CCDI.

“China has strengthened law enforcement cooperation with relevant countries to fight against corrupt fugitives and offer no ‘safe heaven’ for them,” according to a statement from the CCDI.

Xiao made the remarks at the Reception in Celebration of the coming 14th International Anti-Corruption Day, which falls on Saturday.

In recent years, a number of Chinese fugitives suspected of corruption have escaped overseas, especially to Western countries to avoid legal punishment due to difference in laws and complicated procedures.

Meanwhile, they have sent billions of yuan in illicit assets to their foreign accounts through money laundering or underground banks.

Since April 2015, when the International Criminal Police Organization issued red notices on the 100 most–wanted Chinese fugitives accused of corruption, 51 have returned from more than 16 countries and regions to face justice.

Now, another 49 fugitives are still at large and many of them are hiding in Western countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

According to the CCDI, China will deepen judicial cooperation with other countries, including information sharing and conducting joint investigations, to hunt down the fugitives and confiscate money they illegally took out of China.

On Wednesday, 156 foreign delegates from 122 embassies and international organizations stationed in China participated in the reception.