China nabs 582 fugitives in six months, Chinese ‘police stations’ abroad suspected
Few people have been extradited; the bulk returned “voluntarily”. Many cases involve government officials accused of corruption. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, pressure is mounting on relatives of eight pro-democracy activists living in exile “wanted” by local authorities, including a pro-Beijing lawmaker questioned by police.
Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Police in China have arrested 582 fugitives and recovered stolen goods estimated at 1,932 billion yuan (almost US$ 270 million) in the first six months of the year, a report by the Central Escape Pursuit Office indicates.
One major success was the arrest on 10 June of 70-year-old Guo Jiefang, a top police officer with the Guangzhou Public Security Bureau's traffic department, who fled abroad in March 2000 after she was accused of accepting bribes along with other people.
Guo Jiefang was on China’s Interpol 100 most wanted list, and “voluntarily" returned to China to surrender to the authorities.
As recent media investigations have revealed, this kind of practice has set off alarm bells among human rights groups, who point to China’s foreign “secret police stations", raising many questions about the activities by Chinese police abroad.
In fact, in September 2022, the People's Daily, reporting older official data about fugitives, noted that only 45 people were extradited to China over a five-year period, while 328 were simply "repatriated” under its Sky Net operation.
Meanwhile, pressures continue on eight pro-democracy activists who fled Hong Kong to Great Britain, the United States and Australia, with arrest warrants under the national security law hanging over their heads.
After relatives of Nathan Law were taken into custody from their home for questioning at dawn a few days ago, the turn this morning was for the children of Elmer Yuen, a 74-year-old businessman and activist who lives in the United States.
In addition to his daughter Mimi Mi Wahng Yuen and his son Derek, Hong Kong police even questioned the latter's wife, Eunice Yung; a member of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council for a pro-Beijing party, she publicly distanced herself from her father-in-law last year.
The accusation is that he helped people wanted by the police to continue committing acts and engage in activities that endanger national security.
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29/01/2019 14:52
07/02/2019 17:28
