China sets up provincial task forces to help Operation Sky Net hunt for fugitives
Swift arrest of Dai Xuemin, four days after Interpol alert on China's 100 'most wanted' fugitives, hailed as sign of cooperation between government departments
All mainland provinces have set up special task forces to help extradite fugitives after the country's top anti-corruption watchdog released a list of 100 wanted suspects last month as part of its Operation Sky Net international manhunt.
Local party organs and government departments at provincial levels, including those of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the Communist Party's Organisation Department, courts, procuratorate, and public security department all contribute to the task forces, People's Dailyreported.
Together they would play a greater role in pursuing fugitives and were expected to achieve "significant progress" in repatriating corrupt officials this year, the party's mouthpiece said.
The task forces are responsible for negotiating with foreign governments the return of fugitives and joint investigations.
Local authorities should notify central authorities within 24 hours if a suspect they were dealing with had fled, People's Daily said.
It said the swift arrest of Dai Xuemin, the former boss of a trust and investment firm suspected of embezzling 11 million yuan (HK$14 million), was an example of the success of close cooperation between government departments from Jiangsu , Shanghai and Anhui .
