Fang Yong, 35, a former bank accountant extradited...

Fang Yong, 35, a former bank accountant extradited by Canada to China, was given the death penalty by the Ningbo People's Intermediate Court for embezzling public funds. Fang had hidden in Canada for nine years after embezzling about 1.66 million yuan between May and August 1990. He worked at the Bank of Communications Ningbo branch. Earlier reports said he stole the money by changing computer records and documents. Fang Yong remained undetected in Canada until November 1999 when he was discovered as a result of a traffic violation and subsequently returned to China. It was not clear if Canada had sought any assurance before the extradition that Fang would not be given the death penalty for his crimes.