While there is no public data on the number of corrupt officials that have fled China with their money and families, a report by MSN Money estimates anywhere from 4,000 to 18,000 of them have landed in Canada, Australia and the United States.

With so many corrupt officials taking off with China’s wealth, it’s difficult to know just how widespread the problem is. The government’s only comment on the issue was in October 2013, when prosecutor Zao Jianming acknowledged that there were 6,694 corrupt officials caught between 2008 and 2013.

Between 1992 and 2014, only 51 cases were made public: 21 were officials, 19 worked in state-owned enterprises, and 11 were in banking or related fields. The majority were accused of accepting bribes, misusing public funds, exploiting their position, laundering money, and other related white-collar crimes.

Although authorities insist that they are getting tougher on these fugitives, the central bank suggests increased monitoring in sensitive sectors, such as finance, or in any other field that includes a monopoly.

Photo: QQ News