Chinese prosecutors capture 76 fugitive officials

BEIJING - Chinese prosecuting bodies have captured 76 government officials who were on the run abroad accused of committing job-related crimes during the past five years, according to the Ministry of Supervision.

During this period, more than 500 fugitives of economic-related crimes were also captured from outside China. These include government officials.

"China has made remarkable achievements since the 17th Party Congress in 2007 in tracking down suspects on the run and in preventing law-breaking and rule-violating government officials from escaping the country," a ministry statement said on Monday.

Authorities have coordinated efforts and strengthened international cooperation in tracking down corrupt officials, the statement said.

Since 2007, via extradition, repatriation or persuasion, smuggling ring boss Lai Changxing as well as Gao Shan, former director of the Bank of China Hesongjie Branch in Harbin of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, among other fugitives, have been sent from Canada, the US and the Republic of Korea to China after years on the run.

Due to international procuratorial cooperation, Xu Chaofan and Xu Guojun, both former directors of the Bank of China Kaiping Branch in South China's Guangdong province stood trial in the US and were sentenced up to 25 years in jail in 2009, according to the statement.

Discipline inspection, supervision and organizational departments have implemented regulations on reporting officials' personal matters, including income, housing and families. Rules on officials whose spouses and children have moved overseas have also been strengthened.

The Ministry of Public Security has tightened rules on the issuance of entry-exit certificates. Since 2008, it has uncovered 184 government officials who attempted to use fraudulent identity documents to obtain passports.