By: E. Williams
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, May 8th 2017 – China said Monday it will issue an official statement this week on the Chinese fugitive issue with the St. Kitts and Nevis Team Unity Government of Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris.
China said it has made a formal request to St. Kitts and Nevis to handover Chinese fugitive, Ren Biao, contradicting claims by Prime Minister Harris and his Attorney General, Hon. Vincent Byron.
A Chinese diplomatic official has raised the spectre of Beijing moving against a number of agents for the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment programme based in Hong Kong.
The diplomat told CaribUpdate that Beijing will this week issue a formal statement on one of its national St. Kitts and Nevis is refusing to handover.
Ren Biao, who is on Interpol’s wanted list, is accused of stealing US$100 million from a Chinese state company.
CaribUpdate said it has been told by one senior Chinese diplomat late Sunday that the official statement has already being received in Chinese by all embassies in the region and is being translated in English for release.
The senior diplomat whose Caribbean posting comes to an end this month has also raised the spectre of Beijing moving against a number of agents for the St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship by Investment programme based in Hong Kong.
Prime Minister Harris, who is also the Minister of National Security, has been accused by Beijing of being uncooperative on the matter.
Chinese diplomatic officials believe the Timothy Harris government in St. Kitts and Nevis is protecting the Chinese national, who is currently resident in St. Kitts with a wife and school-aged son, and was recently reportedly spotted playing golf at an exclusive resort.
Chinese diplomatic sources said that in an intercepted communication on April 16, the man called relatives in Beijing seeking an additional US$190,000 to help to continue pay for what he reportedly described as his protection by Kittitian authorities.
Leader of the Opposition in St. Kitts and Nevis, the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has called on Prime Minister Harris to resign.
In a statement on Friday afternoon, Dr. Douglas said that despite formal requests by China, as well as Interpol, to secure the return of Ren Biao to face prosecution in China, the current St. Kitts and Nevis Government is refusing to cooperate.
*This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKN PULSE. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical errors within press releases and (or) commentaries. The views contained within are not necessarily those of SKN PULSE.
