Chinese fugitives under watch

Thai and Chinese police have agreed to step up cooperation in cases involving Chinese criminal suspects fleeing to Thailand from China to avoid arrest.

Immigration Bureau (IB) officials, led by Pol Lt Gen Pakpoompipat Sajjapan, recently visited China to discuss international crimes involving Chinese citizens.

Pol Lt Gen Pakpoompipat, who received the order from national police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas, travelled to Kunming for discussions with China’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS), Yunan province’s Public Security Department, and related agencies from Saturday till yesterday.

The IB’s deputy chief, Pol Maj Gen Phanthana Nutchanart said talks with Chinese authorities follow numerous reports of Chinese criminals fleeing to Thailand and Chinese committing crimes in Thailand.

The IB exchanged reports with the Chinese authorities about Chinese criminals to improve cooperation between the two countries and to try and prevent criminal elements from fleeing and settling in Thailand to commit additional crimes.

Pol Maj Gen Phanthana said the discussion panels agreed to exchange information regarding the arrest warrants of Chinese suspects who would flee to Thailand or have some relationship with the country.

The Chinese authorities also promised to send a list of their most wanted suspects to the Thailand IB to follow up on their whereabouts and to import that information into the IB’s notification system for future action.

The panel will also gather reports on international fugitives for future discussions, Pol Maj Gen Phanthana said.