'Fox Hunt' bags hundreds

390 corrupt officials fled overseas turn selves in

China has seized 680 suspected economic fugitives in an international manhunt that began in July 2014, more than half of whom turned themselves in, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) said Thursday.

Among those seized, 208 were involved in economic crimes involving more than 10 million yuan ($ 1.6 million), and 117 had been at large for over a decade, Meng Qingfeng, deputy head of the "Fox Hunt 2014" operation with the MPS, said at a Thursday press conference.

The operation, running from July to December 31, 2014, was meant to "block the last route of retreat" for corrupt officials, and has limited the space for abuse of power, according to the ministry.

Of the 390 suspects who turned themselves in, 332 surrendered after China set a deadline of December 1, 2014 in October of last year.

Suspects turning themselves in before the deadline could expect lenient punishment.

The total number of suspects taken in since July 2014 was 4.5 times the total number for 2013, Meng said.

"The deadline issued last October is the most important reason so many suspects have surrendered themselves," Huang Feng, director of the Institute for International Criminal Law at Beijing Normal University, told the Global Times.

Leniency might mean that petty offenders who turned themselves in might be exempted from penalties, Huang explained.

"Meanwhile most of the suspects who fled in a hurry have found themselves short of cash after all those years. They have had lots of difficulties living in foreign countries since they can't secure permanent residence," he added.

One suspect surnamed Zhu, who was involved in a huge fraud case involving 1.1 billion yuan in Shanxi Province, had to move to another country every month or two during his decade on the run. His temporary apartment was once robbed by armed burglars when he lived in South Africa, reported China Central Television.

Aside from tough living conditions, fugitives have come under increasing pressure as China has received more international assistance in chasing them, according to Huang.

China had signed extradition treaties with 39 countries, including France and Italy, and signed mutual legal assistance agreements with 52 countries like the US, Canada and Australia as of November 2014, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The nation also vowed to offer up to 80 percent of forfeited assets to countries that help China recover illegal wealth transferred overseas.

Chinese police have sent investigation assistance to more than 90 countries, seizing fugitives from 69 countries, said Liu Dong, head of the "Fox Hunt 2014" operation.

"The next step is working with the remaining 20-some countries to seize more fugitives," Liu said.