British man 'was not kidnapped'

HANGZHOU: Police in Zhejiang province yesterday denied reports that a British businessman had been illegally held in China following a business dispute, in which a Chinese firm has insisted it was the victim.

Zhang Weikang, an officer with the Zhenhai sub-bureau of the Ningbo public security bureau, said that after interviewing the businessman and his alleged abductors, police found no evidence of any crime, and suggested the parties resolve their dispute either by negotiation or in court.

Anil Srivastav, of British firm Goldarrow Metals Ltd, was stopped by Meng Zhenghui, of Chinese firm Guanghe, when Srivastav tried to leave the country on Oct 17, two days after arriving in Ningbo to try to solve a dispute between the two companies, Zhang said.