China extradites '99 heist fugitive

YOKOHAMA (Kyodo) Police have arrested a 34-year-old man who had gone into hiding in China after being wanted in connection with a 1999 robbery in Yokohama.

Chinese authorities handed over Masao Fujie in the first extradition from China to Japan through diplomatic channels, the Kanagawa Prefectural Police said Thursday.

As Japan and China have not concluded a criminal extradition treaty, diplomatic channels are the only route for achieving extradition.

Fujie is suspected of robbing a Yokohama precious metal dealer of ¥12 million in cash and ¥34 million worth of watches and other items on Dec. 9, 1999, according to the police.

Fujie has denied the allegations against him, the police said.

The statute of limitation for robbery expires after seven years, but it had been suspended as he fled overseas in August 2000.

He was detained by Chinese authorities in May last year, and arrested by Kanagawa police who visited China.