Chinese police have arrested two men suspected of stealing almost 51 million yuan (US$6.5 million) in cash from the bank where they worked, the Ministry of Public Security said Thursday.

Ren Xiaofeng, 34, and Ma Xiangjing, 37, tellers at the Handan branch of the Agricultural Bank of China in Hebei Province, were put on the country's most-wanted list on Tuesday in connection with the theft on April 14.

Police arrested Ren in a rented house in Liangyungang city of the eastern Jiangsu Province at 8:20 AM Thursday, said Wu Heping, spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security.

Ma was arrested in Beijing on Wednesday afternoon.

"Police have recovered some of the missing funds and are questioning the men," Wu said.

Sources with the Jiangsu provincial public security bureau said police seized 3.4 million yuan when they arrested Ren, who allegedly "did not deny" committing the crime during initial questioning.

"This huge loss of funds has exposed major loopholes in crime prevention, especially regarding financial institutions," Wu said in a press conference. "As the investigation continues, we will learn how the suspects succeeded and we will try to mend the holes in our system."

He said he hoped the Hebei case could sound a warning to the financial sector.

Wu said the theft had even drawn the attention of central government leaders, and Public Security Minister Zhou Yongkang had given instructions on investigating the case.

(Xinhua News Agency April 19, 2007)