Sweden refuses request from China to extradite former official Qiao Jianjun over ‘embezzlement of US$11 million’

Swedish court says he will not be sent back to China due to the risk that he would face persecution because of his political activity

Qiao is accused by Beijing of embezzling millions of dollars

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China had asked Sweden to extradite Qiao Jianjun on suspicion of breach of trust and fraud relating to the embezzlement of around US$11 million. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 4:26pm, 9 Jul 2019Updated: 5:36am, 1 May 2020

Sweden has decided not to extradite a former Chinese official wanted by Beijing on suspicion of having embezzled millions of dollars, due to the risk of him facing persecution, a Swedish court said on Tuesday.

China had asked Sweden to extradite Qiao Jianjun, who also goes under the name of Feng Li, on suspicion of breach of trust and fraud relating to the embezzlement of the equivalent of around 100 million Swedish crowns (US$11 million).

Sweden arrested Qiao – a former director of a government grain storage facility in Hunan province – in June last year. Last month he was released from custody without a ruling on the Chinese request, then rearrested days later on a separate request from the United States, where he has been indicted for money laundering and immigration fraud.

On Monday, the Chinese foreign ministry had reiterated that it wanted Sweden to send Qiao back to China.

Sweden arrested Qiao Jianjun in June last year. He was released last month without a ruling on the Chinese request, then rearrested days later on a separate US request. Photo: Handout via CCTV

The Swedish Supreme Court on Tuesday said it had believed that Qiao could be subjected to persecution and treated in violation of the European Convention because of his political activity.

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