The suspected mastermind behind a million dollar ransom for a kidnapped Taiwan businessman is still on the run, after police closed in on his gang earlier this month in the city of Dongguan in the Pearl River Delta.

The 37-year-old allegedly behind the abduction, a man surnamed Pan, escaped in a car when police made their move to rescue the Taiwan investor surnamed Guo, 52.

Guangdong police swooped when Pan and four other suspects, who he had allegedly hired to assist in the kidnapping, were putting Guo onto a car -- he was in a big bag. Cash totalling 134,067 yuan (US$16,153) was also seized.

Guo was kidnapped at 11:40 pm on October 22 when he was driving home in Dongguan's Houjie Town.

It is claimed that Pan went to Taiwan the following day to demand a ransom. But Guo was not released after his wife paid Pan US$1.68 million. It prompted Guo's nephew to report the incident to police.

The Dongguan Municipal Bureau of Public Security established a task force consisting of 80 experienced officers.

After three days of investigation, they discovered Pan was facing mounting debts and placed him under surveillance before making their move.

Pan, also from Taiwan, runs a shoe factory in Dongguan. It has debts of more than 5 million yuan (US$602,410) because of poor management, it is claimed.

He returned to Dongguan after receiving the ransom on October 25.

In another development, Guangdong police have also closed 2,097 underground Mark Six lottery outlets throughout the province during a sting ending on October 20.

More than 18,000 suspects, including bankers and gamblers, were detained during the three-month-long campaign, which started on July 18.

And 691 gambling gangs were rounded up, dealing a heavy blow to the province's underground gambling activities.

Police have worked on 6,939 gambling-related cases over the past three months.

Meanwhile, five cars, 53 photocopy machines, 69 fax machines and other tools of the trade have also been seized.

On July 24, Guangdong police uncovered the province's biggest underground Mark Six case in Yunfu, detaining nine suspects.

More than 15 million yuan (US$1.81 million) in cash was found at a secret lottery outlet in a home.

Other major underground Mark Six cases have been reported in the cities of Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dongguan and Zhongshan.

Close

Today's Top News		Top National News
+DPRK shows resolve on nuclear talks ( 2003-10-31) +China, EU sign agreement on Galileo ( 2003-10-31) +Developers held over demolitions ( 2003-10-31) +Shanghai on track for Expo 2010 ( 2003-10-31) +Comment: Ethics needed in medical research ( 2003-10-31)		+Comment: Ethics needed in medical research ( 2003-10-31) +Jailed lawyer to appeal verdict in State secrets case ( 2003-10-31) +Minimizing numbers of laid-off workers ( 2003-10-31) +Experts: Environment a key issue ( 2003-10-31) +Shanghai on track for Expo 2010 ( 2003-10-31)