Suspect repatriated to China from US

Another suspect who was put on Interpol's red notice list of fugitives and accused of embezzlement was repatriated to China from the United States on Wednesday after the two countries enhanced cooperation in anti-corruption law enforcement this year, China's top anti-graft watchdog said.

Zheng Quanguan, 61, was the former manager of Fuda real estate company in Huaihua, Central China's Hunan province. He is accused of embezzling more than 28 million yuan ($4 million) by taking advantage of his position, the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said in a statement.

After he fled to the US in 2015, Chinese authorities asked Interpol to put him on the red notice list.

Zheng's repatriation is considered a new achievement in Sino-American anti-corruption law enforcement cooperation, CCDI said, adding that such cooperation has been enhanced this year after the leaders of the two countries reached political consensus on the matter.

In July, Xu Chaofan, former head of the Kaiping sub branch of the Bank of China in Guangdong province, was returned to China from the US to face trial on charges of embezzlement and corruption.

Xu was accused of corruption and the embezzlement of $485 million in bank funds. He fled to the US in 2001 and Interpol issued a red notice for his arrest.

Xu was detained by US judicial authorities in 2003 and in 2009 was sentenced to 25 years in jail by a court in Las Vegas, Nevada, for fraud and money laundering.

In recent years, a number of corrupt officials and directors from State-owned companies have fled to Western destinations, including the US, Canada and New Zealand, to avoid punishment. Meanwhile, they have transferred billions in illicit assets to their foreign accounts through money laundering or underground banks.

The CCDI said it will beef up law enforcement cooperation with foreign countries, including the US，to hunt down fugitives and return their illegal assets.