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China urged to investigate death of UK man linked to ousted Bo Xilai China urged to investigate death of UK man linked to ousted Bo Xilai
(about 4 hours later)
Britain has asked China to investigate the mysterious death of a British businessman with ties to the family of an ousted Chinese leader.Britain has asked China to investigate the mysterious death of a British businessman with ties to the family of an ousted Chinese leader.
Neil Heywood's sudden death at a hotel in Chongqing last November, blamed on heavy alcohol consumption, shocked those who knew the apparently fit 41-year-old but attracted little attention at the time. Neil Heywood's sudden death at a hotel in Chongqing last November, blamed on alcohol consumption, shocked those who knew the apparently fit 41-year-old but attracted little attention at the time.
News of the request to reopen the case comes days after a high-profile leadership contender, Bo Xilai, was dismissed as party chief of the south-western city, in China's biggest political drama for years. News of a request to reopen the case comes days after a high-profile leadership contender, Bo Xilai, was dismissed as party chief of the south-western city, in China's biggest political drama for years.
A spokesman at the UK's embassy in Beijing said they had asked the Chinese authorities to investigate Heywood's death after the British expat community raised concerns. "We recently asked Chinese authorities to investigate the case further after we heard suggestions that there were suspicious circumstances," the spokesman said. A spokesman at the UK embassy in Beijing said they had asked the Chinese authorities to investigate Heywood's death after the British expat community raised concerns. "We recently asked Chinese authorities to investigate the case further after we heard suggestions that there were suspicious circumstances," the spokesman said.
With few facts available, Britain's request has fuelled speculation about his case – including suggestions that officials may have sought to cover up an accidental death, and even a claim that he could have been poisoned.With few facts available, Britain's request has fuelled speculation about his case – including suggestions that officials may have sought to cover up an accidental death, and even a claim that he could have been poisoned.
The dismissal of Bo, once tipped to join the country's top political body in this autumn's leadership transition, followed the flight of his former ally the police chief, Wang Lijun, to the US embassy in nearby Chengdu in February. According to the Wall Street Journal, Wang raised concerns about Heywood's death, and allegedly said he had been in a business dispute with Bo's wife. The dismissal of Bo, once tipped to join the country's top political body in this autumn's leadership transition, followed the flight of his former ally the police chief, Wang Lijun, to the US embassy in nearby Chengdu in February.
However, others have suggested that relations between Wang and his boss broke down because Wang feared Bo could be cutting him loose amid a potential corruption investigation. He was sidelined to a non-police portfolio days before his disappearance. According to the Wall Street Journal, Wang raised concerns about Heywood's death, and allegedly said he had been in a business dispute with Bo's wife.
At the time, Chinese officials blamed Heywood's death on excessive alcohol consumption. His body was reportedly cremated before a postmortem examination could be performed. But people who knew the consultant said he did not appear to be a heavy drinker. However, others have suggested relations between Wang and his boss broke down because Wang feared Bo could be cutting him loose amid a potential corruption investigation. He was sidelined to a non-police portfolio days before his disappearance.
At the time Chinese officials blamed Heywood's death on excessive alcohol consumption. His body was reportedly cremated before a postmortem examination could be performed. But people who knew the consultant said he did not appear to be a heavy drinker.
"I was stunned when I heard [of Heywood's death]; he was 41," said one acquaintance, who had seen him a few months before. "He seemed terribly healthy. It sounded strange to me at the time, and even more so now.""I was stunned when I heard [of Heywood's death]; he was 41," said one acquaintance, who had seen him a few months before. "He seemed terribly healthy. It sounded strange to me at the time, and even more so now."
Heywood appears to have met Bo's family when he lived in Dalian, where Bo was in charge before moving to Chongqing. He told people he had helped Bo's wife, Gu Kailai, to arrange for their son Bo Guagua to go to Harrow – where Heywood himself was schooled. Heywood appears to have met Bo's family when he lived in Dalian, where Bo was in charge before moving to Chongqing. He told people he had helped Bo's wife, Gu Kailai, to arrange for their son Bo Guagua to go to Harrow, where he himself was schooled.
"He did do work in Chongqing, and did have some links with the Bo family," said the acquaintance. "I had heard the Bo link had cooled with him and he didn't do much in Chongqing.""He did do work in Chongqing, and did have some links with the Bo family," said the acquaintance. "I had heard the Bo link had cooled with him and he didn't do much in Chongqing."
A spokesman for the Bo family told the Financial Times Heywood had been a close friend but that Gu had not spoken to Heywood for a long time. The spokesman added that the two had never had business dealings, and suggested the death may have been linked to the Bo family for political reasons.A spokesman for the Bo family told the Financial Times Heywood had been a close friend but that Gu had not spoken to Heywood for a long time. The spokesman added that the two had never had business dealings, and suggested the death may have been linked to the Bo family for political reasons.
Recent weeks have seen a flood of lurid rumours about Bo, Wang and the current political situation. In Bo's last major public appearance, at a press conference earlier this month, he attacked critics for "pouring filth" over him and his family. He said his wife, once a high-profile lawyer, abandoned her career two decades ago so that she could not be accused of benefiting from his status. Recent weeks have seen rumours about Bo, Wang and the current political situation escalate. In Bo's last appearance, at a press conference earlier this month, he attacked critics for "pouring filth" over him and his family. He said his wife, once a high-profile lawyer, abandoned her career two decades ago so that she could not be accused of benefiting from his status.
Heywood is understood to have lived in China for over a decade. Aston Martin has confirmed that he was a non-executive director for Beijing Martin, an Aston Martin dealership, but said he was not directly employed by the British carmaker. Heywood is understood to have lived in China for over a decade and had married a Dalian woman. Aston Martin has confirmed that he was a non-executive director for Beijing Martin, an Aston Martin dealership, but said he was not directly employed by the British carmaker.
A staff member at the Hualing Sifang company, where he was listed as a non-executive board member, said they added his name after discussing the possibility of helping Chinese firms to list in London, but no deals had materialised.A staff member at the Hualing Sifang company, where he was listed as a non-executive board member, said they added his name after discussing the possibility of helping Chinese firms to list in London, but no deals had materialised.
Heywood married a woman from Dalian around 10 years ago, and moved to the Beijing suburbs, where they brought up their two small children. But he also had a property in London, and his background appears to be one of Home Counties affluence. He moved to the Beijing suburbs, where he and his wife brought up their two small children. But he also had a property in London, and his background appears to be one of Home Counties affluence.
He went to Harrow, the exclusive private school in north-west London, as a boarder in September 1984, aged almost 14. He left in the summer of 1988 after completing the sixth form. His family appears to have informed the school of his death. He went to Harrow school in north-west London as a boarder in September 1984, aged almost 14. He left in the summer of 1988 after completing the sixth form. His family appears to have informed the school of his death.
Bo Xilai's son Guagua studied at Harrow between 2001 and 2006, going on to read PPE (politics, philosophy and economics) at Balliol College, Oxford. There, his hedonistic lifestyle attracted splashy headlines in the student press, and may have led to his rustication by the university authorities. He then studied at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. His profile at Harrow was bigger than Heywood's: asked about him, staff at Harrow struck a weary tone. Bo Xilai's son Guagua studied at Harrow between 2001 and 2006, going on to read PPE (politics, philosophy and economics) at Balliol College, Oxford. There his hedonistic lifestyle attracted splashy headlines in the student press, and may have led to his rustication by the university authorities. He then studied at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. His profile at Harrow was bigger than Heywood's.
Police in Chongqing said they had no information on Heywood's death, as did Hong Lei, a foreign ministry spokesman in Beijing.Police in Chongqing said they had no information on Heywood's death, as did Hong Lei, a foreign ministry spokesman in Beijing.