After discovering that more than $3 billion in public funds has been misappropriated to unauthorized departments, the Chinese government has also announced that 580 individuals suspected of economic crimes have fled the country and are hiding abroad. From the Washington Post:
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, Meng told the China Daily newspaper in a report Tuesday.
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.
