China, Kazakhstan exchange criminal suspect

BEIJING - China and Kazakhstan have exchanged two suspects involved in economic crimes, the Ministry of Public Security said Monday.

Kazakhstan handed over a Chinese national surnamed Li to China on July 4, the ministry statement said.

Li allegedly stole 9.5 million yuan ($1.53 million dollars) when he helped a company alter its registration status in 2008 and has been on the run in Kazakhstan since 2009, the statement said.

He was arrested by Kazakh police in May. Kazakhstan agreed to extradite Li after discussing the matter with Chinese authorities.

Chinese police received a request from Kazakh police in April for assistance in arresting a Kazakh national who allegedly stole 209 million Kazakhstani tenge (about $1.37 million dollars) and fled to China in 2009, the statement said.

The suspect was arrested by Beijing police in June and handed over to Kazakhstan on Sunday, it said.