Politics could hinder hunt for accused killer

China is unlikely to help find suspect, expert says

- OMAR MOSLEH, CALVI LEON AND JASON MILLER

Zhixiong Marko Hu, right, is wanted for first-degree murder in the death of Markham realtor Yuk-Ying (Anita) Mui. Hu left Canada for Hong Kong three days after Mui's disappearance on Aug. 9, police and border officials said Thursday.

The hunt for the accused killer of a high-profile realtor will be an arduous task in wake of news the man has left Canada for Hong Kong — especially in light of diplomatic tensions between Canada and China, says a former high-ranking RCMP officer who has previously assisted in tracking suspects abroad.

This week, York Regional Police announced they had issued a Canada-wide warrant for 47-year-old Zhixiong Marko Hu for the first-degree murder of Yuk-Ying (Anita) Mui, 56, of Markham.

The next day, they said Hu had left the country on Aug. 12, three days after Mui’s disappearance, and that he was bound for Hong Kong.

Locating a suspect who has fled the country can be difficult at the best of times, as much of the effort depends on state-to-state co-operation, said Garry Clement, a retired senior RCMP member of 30 years who worked as a liaison officer in Hong Kong.

In this case, it could be further complicated by what has at times been an adversarial relationship between Canada and China, Clement said.

“We have to bear in mind that Canada had just put very strong controls on the import of electric vehicles, and China is great at retaliation, as we know, in one way or another,” Clement said.

“How much co-operation would be given, I think, remains to be seen,” he added. “But I wouldn’t get overly optimistic.”

Tracking a suspect on the lam even within the country’s borders can be challenging, he said, noting there have been individuals sought on Canada-wide warrants whom it took years to arrest.