Murder Suspect Detained 16 Years Later after Committing Arson

Zhang Xiao had escaped police attention after fleeing a murder charge in 2000. Then he set a truck on fire over RMB200 in owed wages, according to a CUTV video report. 

On August 12, at around 3am, the Kengzi Public Security Bureau police station in Pingshan, Shenzhen, received a report that a freighter truck was burning.

Surveillance footage shows Zhang carrying a tank of gas into the area before leaving by bike. Under questioning, Zhang said he set the fire because he was owed money. He also said he had been using a fake name for 16 years. 

Entering Zhang’s name into a national database revealed that he is suspected of committing a homicide in Ningyuan, Hunan Province.

Hunan police are taking over the case, though there is no word whether Zhang will get his outstanding RMB200.

[Images via Sina]