Chinese authorities have netted another financial fugitive, who has been hiding in the United Kingdom for three years, after the woman, suspected of money laundering, surrendered to authorities on Thursday.

Chen Yijuan, 45, a former mobile phone company employee, went into hiding in Britain in April 2013 after Chinese authorities started investigating her for alleged money laundering.

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Beijing said Chen is one of three economic fugitives who went into hiding in Britain. She is the 20th corruption suspect who has returned to China from the country either voluntarily or by repatriation.

China's operation Skynet 100, which is aimed at capturing the country's top 100 economic fugitives who have fled abroad, is still moving at a slow pace due to the absence of an extradition treaty with several countries.

China's anti-corruption watchdog, the  Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), said authorities persuaded Chen to return to China after three years in hiding.

Authorities "successfully persuaded" Chen to return to China, an online statement from the CCDI said.

"Under threat of legal action and policy pressure, Chen Yijuan chose to return to China on her own accord and surrender to authorities," the statement added.

A majority of the 100 most wanted suspects on China's Skynet list are reported to be living openly in North American countries like the US and Canada. Some of them have gained the status of legal immigrants.

Britain is one of the many countries that does not have an extradition treatiy with China and as such is a safe haven for corrupt officials looking to escape the arms of the law. Several western countries, who have not signed any extradiction treaty with Beijing, cite human rights concerns and the existence of the death penalty in China's legal system as their reasons from failing to handover criminals.

TagsSkynet 100, financial fugitives, money laundering charges, Central Commission for Discipline Inspection