A former bank accountant handed over by Canada to the mainland in November has been sentenced to death by a mainland court for embezzling public funds, state media reported yesterday.
Fang Yong, 35, who hid in Canada for nine years, was given the death penalty by Ningbo People's Intermediate Court recently for embezzling about 1.66 million yuan (HK$1.56 million) between May and August 1990, Xinhua said.
Fang was an accountant at the Bank of Communications' Ningbo branch. Earlier reports said he stole the money by changing computer records and documents. He reportedly squandered much of his ill-gotten gains before he fled to Canada.
It was not clear if Canada had sought any assurance before the extradition that Fang would not be given the death penalty for his crimes.
