Economic fugitive becomes first this year to surrender in Guangdong

After months of effort from prosecutors, an economic fugitive was persuaded home from Canada and surrendered to authorities in the southern province of Guangdong.

Chang Zheng, former deputy general manager of Shenzhen Zhongyou Equipment Import and Export Co. Ltd flew into Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and turned himself in.

Chang said he would make a confession of his guilt and actively co-operate with prosecutors investigating his case, with the aim of receiving a reduced punishment.

"I endured all kinds of suffering when I fled abroad," Chang said upon his arrival in the capital of Guangdong province. "I could not fulfill my duty to my parents and meet my beloved family members after I escaped abroad".

Chang, born in November 1969, became the first fugitive to surrender in the province this year, according to a statement from Guangdong provincial high people's procuratorate on Wednesday.

Chang fled to Canada in November 2011 before his case was exposed.

He was suspected of having taken a large sum in bribes and neglect of duty while in office, the statement said.

Guangdong provincial high people's procuratorate immediately established a special task force assigned to capture him the next year.

After persuasion from prosecutors, lawyers, family members, classmates and friends, Chang finally decided to turn himself in and confess his crime.

Guangdong provincial high people's procuratorate persuaded 116 economic fugitives who used to hide in foreign countries and regions back home for further investigation last year.