Deng Xinzhi, a suspect involved in a 20-million-yuan (US$2.92 million) swindling case, has been repatriated to China after spending five years on the run in Canada, the Ministry of Public Security said yesterday.

The Beijing native allegedly swindled more than 20 million yuan in the first eight months of 2002 while posing with others as an employee of insurance company China Life.

He fled to Canada in January 2003.

Under escort of Canada Border Services Agency officers, he was turned over to Chinese officials last Friday. This showed the cooperative attitude of Canada in upholding the law, the ministry said in a statement.

"We appreciate Canada's move and hope law enforcement departments on the two sides can enhance cooperation in the future," it read.

Canada's Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said in a statement on the ministry's Website that Deng's removal underscored the Canadian government's commitment that the country would not be a "safe haven" for fugitives.

Some experts believe the case will accelerate the repatriation of other fugitives of economic offences, including Lai Changxing, the leading suspect in the country's most notorious smuggling case valued at US$10 billion.

Lai, who resides in Vancouver, Canada, where he was seeking refugee status, was accused of being the mastermind behind the country's largest smuggling ring. He fled to Canada in 1999. China has been seeking Lai's return to face charges of smuggling, bribery and tax evasion.

More than 500 Chinese wanted for economic crimes, mostly graft, are still at large overseas.

(Shanghai Daily August 28, 2008)