1st LD-Writethru: China Focus: China launches "Sky Net" to capture fugitive officials

A campaign to capture corrupt officials who have fled abroad, carrying the name "Sky Net", will be launched next month, the top anti-graft authority said on Thursday.

This campaign follows the success of Fox Hunt 2014.

From April, the campaign will focus on fugitive officials, illegal certificates, underground banks and misappropriated assets, according to a meeting of the central authority's anti-graft coordination group.

Sky Net will involve several government departments, including the Organizational Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP), the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), the People's Bank of China (PBOC), or the central bank.

The MPS will focus on the seizure of fugitive suspects implicated in corruption cases, while the SPP will take charge of those suspected of duty-related crimes.

In addition, the central bank will work with the MPS on crimes that involve the transfer of money abroad, while the Organizational Department of the CPC Central Committee will check travel documents.

The ongoing countercorruption drive has already led to the conviction of nearly 100 "tigers", referring to high-ranking officials, and many more minor officials, or "flies".

It aims to block the "last route of retreat" for corrupt officials.

A total of 680 fugitives suspected of economic crimes were repatriated to China from July to Dec. 31 last year.

Huang Shuxian, deputy head of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), who also heads the office that pursues fugitive suspects and stolen assets, urged central and local departments to make coordinated efforts to ensure corrupt officials are brought home to face justice. Endi