Cops revoke warrant for fugitive reporter

• Source: Global Times
• [01:09 July 30 2010]
• Comments

By Deng Jingyin

Police in Zhejiang Province Thursday revoked an arrest warrant for a fugitive reporter who exposed a corporate embezzlement scandal. The police also made an apology.

The journalist, Qiu Ziming, a Shanghai-based financial reporter for Economic Observer, was put on the nation's "Most Wanted" list in July after he revealed alleged embezzlement and illegal trading by a Shenzhen-listed company.

Police in Suichang county issued the arrest warrant on charges that Qiu had damaged the business reputation of the Zhejiang Kan Specialties Material Corporation.

Police in Lishui said they canceled the criminal detention order Thursday after confirming that the July 23 decision to issue an arrest warrant was illegal. Qiu has gone into hiding.

Those involved in the case are now under investigation, police said.

The local police authority could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Between June 5 and July 24, Qiu published four reports exposing the problems of State-owned assets embezzlement and illegal insider trading at Kan Specialties.

Xiang Wujun, a legal adviser for the newspaper, told the Global Times that he is not sure when Qiu will return to work, "depending on his health."

The newspaper said in a statement that it welcomes the police decision and reserves the right to take legal action against Kan.

A whistleblower who reportedly gave the reporter tip-offs on the embezzlement scandal was released from detention Thursday afternoon. On Tuesday, police arrested Weng Anyu, chief financial officer of a Hangzhou company.