Prosecutors in China's Tianjin Municipality have approved the arrest of 16 suspects on suspicion of organizing and leading pyramid selling activities as well as other crimes, in the case of Tianjin-based healthcare industry giant Quanjian on Sunday.

Earlier on January 7, a total of 18 people were arrested and two others are out on bail in the same case.

Among the 16 suspects, the company's actual controller, a 51-year-old man surnamed Shu, was also included.

Chinese authorities initiated a nationwide campaign to battle against irregularities in the healthcare product market after the scandal was exposed.

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China investigates healthcare products company for pyramid scheme