Italy extradites economic crime suspect to China

BEIJING - An economic fraud suspect was returned to China under police escort on Tuesday after ten years on the run in Italy, marking the first extradition of its kind from a European country, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

The suspect, surnamed Zhang, a former securities company staff in north China's Hebei Province, allegedly stole more than 1.4 million yuan ($223,700) from clients' between Jan 2000 and Jan 2005, according to a statement released Tuesday by the ministry.

Zhang escaped to Italy in Oct 2005, at the same time the ministry released a Red Notice via Interpol and began to arrange law enforcement cooperation with Italy on her case.

Zhang was arrested by Italian police in Oct 2014, and the country officially agreed for her extradition on Jan 16, 2015, the statement said.