Chinese police expose collusion between fugitive Guo Wengui, airline staff

BEIJING -- Fugitive Guo Wengui is suspected of collusion with air traffic control and Hainan Airlines staff to obtain passengers' personal information, according to Chinese police.

Guo, who is listed on the Interpol "red notice" of wanted fugitives, is also suspected of fabricating and distorting information to mislead the public, police said, citing a case on personal information infringement involving Guo.

Song Jun, 47, who had been working for civil aviation air traffic control for more than 20 years, and Ma Cong, from Hainan Airlines, were arrested by police in June this year for suspected personal information infringements in this case.

"[Guo] betrays anyone for money, including the country and his loved ones," said Song, adding that his dealings with Guo have ruined his family.

Song first met Guo in 2009. In August 2015, Guo asked Song to provide flight information of several business passengers.

"Guo, who had fled overseas at the time, said that he would like to better understand China's economic situation through the travel information of entrepreneurs," Song said.

"He promised to help me emigrate to Britain, purchase a house, and look after my daughter who was studying there," Song said.

Guo also attempted to collect personal information of political figures and celebrities from the Middle East and the United States, as well as their relatives, Song said.

From December 2015 to March 2017, Song and Ma shared 561 pieces of flight information concerning 146 Hainan Airlines passengers with Guo, police investigation showed.

Guo then fabricated stories using the flight information, claiming that the information had been provided by Ma Jian, former vice minister of state security, police said.

"Guo created stories of love affairs between men and women who traveled on the same flight," Song said.

Police found Guo had released such stories via overseas media outlets and online video platforms.

Last month, a Chinese court ruled that Guo, who controlled Beijing Pangu Investment Co, Ltd, had directed three individuals to apply for loans from banks using fake contracts, stamps, and financial statements.

The three have received prison terms for fraudulently obtaining loans and foreign exchange.

Kaifeng People's Procuratorate in Central China's Henan province has also initiated a public prosecution against Guo's Henan Yuda Real Estate Company and its employees, on charges of defrauding loans and bill acceptance.