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UK asks China to probe man's death in Chongqing | UK asks China to probe man's death in Chongqing |
(40 minutes later) | |
By Michael Bristow BBC News, Beijing | By Michael Bristow BBC News, Beijing |
The British government has asked the Chinese authorities to look again into the death of a UK citizen. | The British government has asked the Chinese authorities to look again into the death of a UK citizen. |
Neil Heywood died in Chongqing last November, apparently because of the over-consumption of alcohol. | Neil Heywood died in Chongqing last November, apparently because of the over-consumption of alcohol. |
His family and the British embassy initially accepted the police findings, but doubts have now been raised. | |
The case has attracted increased attention because the British businessman was a friend of sacked Chongqing boss, Bo Xilai. | |
Mr Bo is one of China's most popular politicians, but has just been removed from his post in one of the biggest political scandals to hit the country in years. | Mr Bo is one of China's most popular politicians, but has just been removed from his post in one of the biggest political scandals to hit the country in years. |
Despite the friendship, the BBC understands there were no business connections between Mr Heywood and Mr Bo's family. | |
'Speculation' and 'concerns' | 'Speculation' and 'concerns' |
Several British nationals living in China told the UK embassy in Beijing of their suspicions about the death. | |
A spokesman for the embassy confirmed that it had then asked the Chinese police to look again into this case. It made the request earlier this year. | |
The spokesman said: "There was speculation, which was referred to us, so we passed it onto the Chinese authorities." | |
It is not yet clear whether the Chongqing police have re-opened the investigation. | |
The embassy spokesman could not confirm the cause of Mr Heywood's death, but it is believed to have been due to the over-use of alcohol. After his death, he was cremated. | The embassy spokesman could not confirm the cause of Mr Heywood's death, but it is believed to have been due to the over-use of alcohol. After his death, he was cremated. |
"Back at the time, the family was content with how the case was being handled and had no reason to disbelieve the police's findings," added the spokesman. | "Back at the time, the family was content with how the case was being handled and had no reason to disbelieve the police's findings," added the spokesman. |
The British embassy declined to comment on the nature of the new concerns, but media reports suggest the dead man was a teetotaller. | |
That suspicion appears to be false: someone who knew Mr Heywood told the BBC that the dead man did occasionally drink. | That suspicion appears to be false: someone who knew Mr Heywood told the BBC that the dead man did occasionally drink. |
Other rumours surround Mr Heywood's friendship with the Chinese politician Bo Xilai, who made his name in Chongqing by cracking down on organised crime. | Other rumours surround Mr Heywood's friendship with the Chinese politician Bo Xilai, who made his name in Chongqing by cracking down on organised crime. |
There have also been media reports that Mr Heywood worked as a butler for Mr Bo's son, Bo Guagua, but these reports are understood to be untrue. | There have also been media reports that Mr Heywood worked as a butler for Mr Bo's son, Bo Guagua, but these reports are understood to be untrue. |
Mr Bo was removed from his post as communist party boss in the city earlier this month because of his connection with a scandal involving Chongqing's police chief, Wang Lijun. | Mr Bo was removed from his post as communist party boss in the city earlier this month because of his connection with a scandal involving Chongqing's police chief, Wang Lijun. |
Mr Wang was demoted and then fled to the US consulate in Chengdu. Many believe he went there to seek asylum. | Mr Wang was demoted and then fled to the US consulate in Chengdu. Many believe he went there to seek asylum. |