Life imprisonment was served to China's second most wanted economic fugitive. (Photo : Getty Images)
A former local government official from Poyang County, east China’s Jiangxi Province, and second name on the "100 most wanted" economic fugitive was sentenced to life imprisonment for corruption.
Li Huabo, 55 years old, was accused of embezzling 94 million yuan ($14 million).
Li funneled 29 million ($5.2 million) through Singaporean banks before fleeing Singapore in 2011.
In 2014, Singaporean court sentenced Li to 15 months in jail for “dishonesty accepting stolen property.”
In May 2015, Li was repatriated to Beijing after serving 10 months of his sentence.
Li was the first of China’s “100 Most-Wanted Economic Criminals” to be returned from overseas.
His sentence was handed to him by Shangrao Intermediate People’s Court, Jiangxi Province.
Li was repatriated as part of the “Sky Net” and “Operation Foxhunt” campaigns, which aim to return rich but corrupt officials and economic fugitives who have fled the country.
Last year, China released its “most wanted” economic fugitives list, which includes identification numbers and photos of former local government officials, accountants, police officers and more.
These people are allegedly taking bribes, laundering money and embezzling funds.
According to the details released by China’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, other alleged crimes include issuing false tax receipts and contract fraud.
CNN reported that 66 individuals are believed to be in the U.S. and Canada. Some are spread in Asia, Sudan, Ghana, St. Kitts, Nevis and Belize.
The move was part of Chinese government’s wide-reaching anti-corruption crackdown.
Beijing has sought the help of the U.S. government by sending a list of priority to Washington. However, the details about the extent of their cooperation were not released.
