Official suspended over suspect's death

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-22 11:50

XI'AN -- A police chief in a northwest China county has been suspended from his post over the death of a criminal suspect, local authorities said Sunday.

Yan Yaofeng, head of the Danfeng County Public Security Bureau, was suspended from his post as he had "unshirkable responsibility" as a major leader in the suspect's death incident, according to a decision made by Shangluo City authorities Saturday.

Xu Gengrong was a 19-year-old student at the Danfeng High School in Danfeng County, Shangluo City. Police suspected he had murdered a female high school student. Xu died on the morning of March 8 after an interrogation at the Danfeng County Public Security Bureau.

During the interrogation at 10:30 a.m. on March 8, Xu Gengrong's face suddenly turned yellow and he also showed symptoms of short breath, feeble pulse and salivating. Police officers immediately sent him to the Danfeng County Hospital, and he died at 11 a.m. after emergency treatment.

Wang Qingbao, a senior officer in charge of disciplinary inspection at the county public security bureau, and Sun Peng, head of the criminal police team, are under investigation by the procuratorate authorities for "dereliction of duty".

Shangluo City authorities demanded the truth of the case should be found out as quickly as possible.