A fugitive who caught pneumonia because of Beijing's heavy smog recently gave himself up to the police in his hometown in Hunan Province.
The fugitive, surnamed Long, is the main suspect of a burglary in Qidong County of Hunan Province. He has been on the run for a month.
On December 23, Long confessed to the police that he and two of his associates broke into a house in November and stole cash and items worth a total of 10,000 yuan, or some $1,540.
Knowing that local detectives have tied him and his associates to the case, Long was afraid of being sentenced to jail and ran to a friend in Beijing for shelter.
Instead of being caught by the police, he was caught in the heavily polluted air in Beijing during the past few weeks. The smog triggered pneumonia and infections in his respiratory system.
After receiving treatment at a clinic, he was advised to go to a larger hospital for a further checkup.
Wanted by the police, Long's identity and information was posted on the public security network.
Many hospitals in Beijing require patients to provide real identities. Desperate for hospital care, Long struggled for a few days before deciding to turn himself in.
The latest media reports seem to suggest Long has finally received the treatment he needs.