China's most-wanted fugitive was arrested yesterday after being returned to China from Canada, where he lived for 12 years.
Lai Changxing, the chief suspect in a smuggling operation in Xiamen, Fujian province, involving an estimated 50 billion yuan (HK$60.5 billion), was escorted by two Chinese police officers as he left an Air Canada plane that arrived in Beijing at 4.32pm.
CCTV footage showed a balding, pudgy Lai being escorted to an old building where, after being transferred by Canadian officers, he was formally arrested.
Lai, wearing a grey shirt, looked quiet but was responsive and alert when the police officer read him his rights. 'You have the right to hire lawyers for legal assistance ... and details will be explained to you when you are under investigation,' the officer said.
'What are you explaining to me?' Lai asked. He replied 'Yes' and nodded his head after the officer repeated the remark.
Lai signed his name and put his fingerprint on the arrest order and was then escorted to a police vehicle.