At 9 a.m. on Jan. 18, in front of the People's Procuratorate in Guang'an, southwest China's Sichuan province, a row of bailiffs and many media representatives were waiting for a police car to arrive. In that car was Yi Tuke, 61, a fugitive official who evaded capture for 14 years, and who is finally being brought to justice.
On April 8, 2002, Yi, former Deputy Secretary General, director of the Municipal Transportation Bureau of Guang'an, chose to abscond during the period in which he was under review on suspicion of bribery. Fourteen years later, persuaded by his family, he chose to give himself up.
Fourteen years ago, right after Yi was transferred to Guang'an municipal government, Guang'an City People's Procuratorate filed an investigation on Yi. That very day, on April 1, 2002, the Commission for Discipline of Guang'an announced that Yi was under disciplinary review on suspicion of taking bribes. "It was very complicated. Someone deliberately spread some bad information on me and tried to harm me," Yi said when he was asked the reason for his flight.
Yi said this was the biggest turning point in his life. With the help of friends, he took the train from Guang'an to Beijing. "I can clearly remember: it was April 8, 2002," said Yi.
To avoid being found, Yi cut off contact with friends and family. He has traveled to a lot of places over the years, including Beijing, Shanghai, Shandong, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangdong, Guangzhou and Chongqing. Chongqing was the city where Yi spent the longest time during his fugitive years. He stayed there for about one year.
To make a living, Yi did odd jobs, such as selling newspapers and collecting waste. Yi said that besides lacking material comforts, he also suffered spiritually. Without family and friends, he was lonely and could talk to nobody.
Yi finally decided to give himself up. He hopes to get leniency. "Over the years, I truly regretted my choice to abscond," Yi said.
"Yi is the third fugitive official captured in Guang'an city, and also the one with highest level, who hid for the longest time—14 years!" said Sun Kun, officer in the Anti-Corruption Bureau of the procuratorate of Guang'an.
