China's Ministry of Public Security has issued a wanted list of the second-highest importance for a foreman accused of employing slave laborers in north China's Shanxi Province.

Heng Tinghan, 42, a native of central Henan Province, was suspected of forcing people to work as slaves in a brick kiln in Hongtong County, Shanxi since March 2006, which has left one dead and 20 injured, the ministry said.

Heng, about 1.7 meters tall, has a long face and is thin and dark-complexioned. He speaks with a Henan accent.

A reward of 20,000 yuan (2,500 U.S. dollars) is on offer to anyone who passed on information that contributed to his arrest, according to the ministry.

To date, 331 people, including nine children, were freed in Shanxi, bringing the total number of slave workers rescued to 548, including 217 freed in the neighboring Henan Province, after police launched large-scale raids over brick kilns, coal and iron mines.

Wang Dongji, Party branch secretary of Caosheng Village, is being investigated after his son was found to be an owner of the illegal brick kiln who forced 32 people to work under extremely cruel conditions.

Other county-level officials involved in the case are also being investigated.

Wang Bingbing, the kiln owner, and three taskmasters have been detained. Police are hunting for three other suspects in five provinces.

By Saturday, local police have detained 24 suspects involved in the case.

Source: Xinhua