A fugitive wanted in China for the past eight years on multiple fraud charges has been deported from Central America, Xinhua reported yesterday.
Qian Hong, 43, was extradited to China from Panama last week. He has been accused of swindling 43 companies out of a total of 500 million yuan (HK$470 million) between May 1992 and July 1993.
Xinhua said Qian left China in July 1993 using a fake passport and wearing a disguise. Two months later, Shanghai police began an investigation into Qian's alleged crimes and later issued an arrest warrant.
After spending eight years on the run, reportedly in the United States, he was arrested on April 23 there on an Interpol warrant. He was, however, sent to Panama because he held a Panamanian passport.
A court in Panama in May fined Qian US$10,000 (HK$78,000) for possessing the fake passport and he was extradited to China last week. If convicted, Qian could face the death penalty.
Xinhua yesterday said Qian founded two companies called American Kangtai Enterprise Group and American Kangtai Finance Investment in Shanghai in 1992.
