Chinese fraud suspect seized after 14-year flight

BEIJING - A Chinese woman suspected in a major economic crime was "recently" seized and repatriated with the help of Thai law enforcement groups after fleeing the country 14 years ago, the Ministry of Public Security announced on Monday.

According to the ministry, Yu Guorong siphoned money from public deposits and illegally released loans between March 1989 and October 1998 when she was branch head of a bank in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.

Crimes allegedly committed by Yu involved 2.8 billion yuan ($460 million) and led to direct economic losses worth 1.13 billion yuan, said the ministry, adding that she later fled overseas.

The ministry issued a red-notice arrest warrant for Yu via Interpol and twice sent special teams abroad to investigate before finding clues in May suggesting Yu was hiding in Thailand.

She has been arrested in accordance with the law and the case is under further investigation, the ministry said.