Chinese fugitives head to Canada, U.S.

Nearly 600 fugitives involved with economic crimes such as fraud and embezzlement have fled China and are hiding in other countries, a top security official was quoted as saying Tuesday.

China's rapid economic growth has been accompanied by an alarming increase in economic crimes, with almost daily reports of officials stealing millions of dollars from government offices or companies.At least 580 fugitives accused of illegal fundraising, bank loan fraud, illegally transferring funds abroad and contract fraud are hiding out in other countries, said Meng Qingfeng, head of the economic crime division at the Ministry of Public Security.Most of the fugitives fled to North America or Southeast Asia, the China Daily newspaper quoted Meng as saying.

A big hurdle in having the fugitives returned is a lack of extradition treaties with many countries, the report said. China has signed extradition treaties with just 37 countries."It is more urgent to prevent the suspects from fleeing abroad while trying to enhance judicial co-operation with other countries to bring the fugitives back," Meng said. Meng said Chinese authorities have seized more than 250 fugitives from 20 countries since 2006, but differing legal systems have made it difficult.

Most famous Chinese fugitive is fighting to stay in Canada

China's most famous fugitive is Lai Changxing, who fled to Canada more than a decade ago. He is charged with heading a network that smuggled billions of dollars worth of goods into China with the protection of corrupt officials.China is critical of Canada's handling of Lai, who has staged a legal fight to stay in Canada, arguing he faces torture and possible execution if he returns to China. The Canadian government has been trying to deport Lai, although Canada and China do not have an extradition treaty.

Lai, who has been living in Vancouver since 1999, is accused of running a gasoline and cigarette smuggling empire that was worth in excess of $10 billion. The Chinese have insisted he be sent back to China to face justice and has promised that he will not be executed. But Lai told the CBC in 2009 that he did not trust the Chinese government because nine of his associates had already received the death penalty.

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