China urges fugitives to surrender for leniency

BEIJING -- Chinese authorities have released a statement urging fugitives to voluntarily give themselves up if they want leniency, according to a press conference by the Ministry of Public Security Wednesday.

Fugitives who turn themselves in between the day the statement was released and Oct 31 and offer true accounts of their crimes will be eligible for lesser punishments, and those whose crimes are relatively minor may be exempted from punishment, the statement reads.

The statement also says fugitives who perform meritorious services will receive lesser punishments.

On the other hand, suspects who do not surrender before the deadline will be punished in accordance with the law without leniency.

The statement was jointly issued by the Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate and MPS.