Ji Siguang, who was playing a Buddhist monk in the series Shaolin Tigers, arrested over 1998 assault of police officer

This article is more than 8 years old

This article is more than 8 years old

A Chinese fugitive who spent years hiding in plain sight as an actor on popular TV shows has been arrested over the assault of a police officer 13 years ago, state media have reported.

Police seized Ji Siguang as he was filming a costume drama, said officials in Qiqihar, northern Heilongjiang province. His best-known role was in the appropriately named hit spy drama Lurk, three years ago.

Ji, who acted under the name Zhang Guofeng, appeared in more than 30 shows but reportedly told police he had been too frightened to watch his performances because he was nervous he might be recognised.

The 39-year-old's capture in Jinhua, eastern Zhejiang province, appears to have been the result of a tipoff from anonymous informants rather than police scrutiny of primetime TV.

Ji is accused of assaulting a police officer and taking his gun in a 1998 street robbery in Qiqihar. Three others were caught by police within days of the attack.

According to the Guangzhou Daily, Ji confessed to police, saying he had moved from city to city before settling in Zhejiang, where he found work as an extra at Hengdian World Studios, China's biggest film-making base. With previous experience as a radio host, Ji gradually worked up to larger roles and was playing a Buddhist monk in the new series Shaolin Tigers when arrested.

In July, another fugitive was arrested for a 1998 murder after appearing on a dating programme. Officers checked tapes of the show after a viewer told police he recognised music teacher Wu Gang, who had used the alias Liu Hao.