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| Singapore begins inquiry into Shane Todd death | Singapore begins inquiry into Shane Todd death |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Singapore has opened a coroner's inquiry into the death of a US engineer whose parents believe he was killed over a China-linked project related to sensitive technology. | Singapore has opened a coroner's inquiry into the death of a US engineer whose parents believe he was killed over a China-linked project related to sensitive technology. |
| Shane Todd's death, in June 2012, was registered as a suicide by hanging. | Shane Todd's death, in June 2012, was registered as a suicide by hanging. |
| But his family allege foul play was involved, pointing to work they say was linked to China's Huawei Technologies. | But his family allege foul play was involved, pointing to work they say was linked to China's Huawei Technologies. |
| Both Huawei and Mr Todd's employer, a Singapore government institute, reject the claims. | Both Huawei and Mr Todd's employer, a Singapore government institute, reject the claims. |
| Authorities in Singapore have been working with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation on the case after US officials called for Mr Todd's parents' concerns to be investigated. | Authorities in Singapore have been working with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation on the case after US officials called for Mr Todd's parents' concerns to be investigated. |
| The inquiry - which will focus on determining the cause of death - is expected to last until the end of May, after which a verdict will be issued. | |
| Mr Todd's parents, Rick and Mary, are in Singapore and will be testifying. | Mr Todd's parents, Rick and Mary, are in Singapore and will be testifying. |
| 'Never materialised' | 'Never materialised' |
| Shane Todd, 31, an electronic engineer, was found hanged at his home in Singapore on 24 June 2012. | Shane Todd, 31, an electronic engineer, was found hanged at his home in Singapore on 24 June 2012. |
| It was in a Financial Times report in February that Mr Todd's parents raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding his death. | It was in a Financial Times report in February that Mr Todd's parents raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding his death. |
| They told the newspaper that what they found at their son's home did not match details in a police report related to his apparent suicide. They also said they did not believe he was the author of a suicide note shown to them by police. | They told the newspaper that what they found at their son's home did not match details in a police report related to his apparent suicide. They also said they did not believe he was the author of a suicide note shown to them by police. |
| Mr Todd had been employed at the Institute of Microelectronics (IME) in Singapore, a unit under the state-owned Agency for Science, Technology and Research. | Mr Todd had been employed at the Institute of Microelectronics (IME) in Singapore, a unit under the state-owned Agency for Science, Technology and Research. |
| He had feared a project he was working on harmed US national security, his parents told the FT. | He had feared a project he was working on harmed US national security, his parents told the FT. |
| They picked up an external hard drive at his home, which the FT said contained copies of their son's computer files from IME, including a planned project apparently involving Huawei - a Chinese telecommunications giant - and IME. | They picked up an external hard drive at his home, which the FT said contained copies of their son's computer files from IME, including a planned project apparently involving Huawei - a Chinese telecommunications giant - and IME. |
| Huawei has been labelled a potential national security threat by a US Congressional committee over fears about its ties to China's government and military. | Huawei has been labelled a potential national security threat by a US Congressional committee over fears about its ties to China's government and military. |
| According to the FT, the files detail a project using gallium nitride (GaN), a semiconductor technology that has both commercial and potential military uses. | According to the FT, the files detail a project using gallium nitride (GaN), a semiconductor technology that has both commercial and potential military uses. |
| IME and Huawei said preliminary talks to collaborate on a project did not progress. | IME and Huawei said preliminary talks to collaborate on a project did not progress. |
| 'Depressed' | 'Depressed' |
| K Shanmugam, Singapore's foreign minister, told Reuters news agency in March that Mr Todd had been " involved in a small project with Huawei that lasted nine months". | K Shanmugam, Singapore's foreign minister, told Reuters news agency in March that Mr Todd had been " involved in a small project with Huawei that lasted nine months". |
| "IME discussed a project involving GaN with Huawei. This GaN project has been the subject of much, and sometimes breathless, media speculation," he said. | "IME discussed a project involving GaN with Huawei. This GaN project has been the subject of much, and sometimes breathless, media speculation," he said. |
| "The reality is IME and Huawei could not agree terms on the project and thus the project never materialised." | "The reality is IME and Huawei could not agree terms on the project and thus the project never materialised." |
| Colleagues of Mr Todd - who had a history of depression - described him as depressed in the months leading up to his death, Reuters reported. | Colleagues of Mr Todd - who had a history of depression - described him as depressed in the months leading up to his death, Reuters reported. |
| Mr Todd's parents said their son had described himself as "anxious" about work before he died, but that he had rejected a suggestion from his mother that he was depressed. | Mr Todd's parents said their son had described himself as "anxious" about work before he died, but that he had rejected a suggestion from his mother that he was depressed. |