Post date: Apr 17, 2012 11:35:59 AM
Additional information is emerging into the death of British businessman Neil Heywood and his connection to the wife a prominent Chinese politician. Julie Noce reports.
CHINA-BO XILAI - More details are emerging in the story about a prominent Chinese politician and his wife who is being investigated for the murder of a British businessman.
The now former Chinese Politiburo member Bo Xilai and his wife Gu Kailai are at the center of a police investigation involving the murder of Briton Neil Heywood.
Reuters has learned that Gu had asked Heywood to move a large sum of money to an overseas account and that she became furious when he demanded a larger than agreed upon cut of the money.
Sources say Heywood threatened to expose the offshore transactions... so Gu hatched a plan to have him killed.
It's believed that 41-year old Heywood was killed here at the secluded Nanshan Lijing Holiday Hotel in November of last year.
Sources say police think Heywood had consumed a poisonous drink.
WANG KANG, A CHONGQING CULTURAL ENTREPRENEUR WITH CLOSE LINKS TO OFFICIALS, SAYING:
"The murder was said to take place at the Nanshan Lijing Holiday Hotel in Chongqing's Nan'an district. I have been to that hotel before. It is not a luxurious hotel, but has a nice view of the mountain and river. It is located in a quiet area, very suitable for carrying out a murder as nobody would notice."
Fast forward to February of this year when Bo was confronted about his wife's involvement in the death.
China's central government eventually became involved and stripped Bo of all his party positions.
A government investigation is ongoing.
CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN LIU WEIMIN SAYING:
"The Heywood case has entered the judicial process, and China is conducting an investigation. Investigation takes time, I believe China will handle the case based on law and release information in real time."
There are still plenty of unanswered questions... how much money was involved, and how would Heywood have have moved it offshore?
For now Bo and his wife Gu remain in police custody.
Julie Noce Reuters