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June 21, 2012

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Cambodia says China made plea for arrest

Source: Agencies | June 21, 2012, Thursday | Print Edition

CAMBODIA'S government said yesterday that China had requested the arrest of a Frenchman over possible links to a murder case connected to an ousted Party official in China's southwestern Chongqing City.

However, asked about the arrest at a daily news briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said: "I have no information about that to provide to you."

On Tuesday, Cambodian authorities acknowledged they had arrested Patrick Devillers, but declined to say why. Yesterday, Information Minister and government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said China had requested Devillers' arrest because of possible involvement in the murder in China last November of British businessman Neil Heywood.

Kanharith gave no details of the alleged involvement, but said that Cambodia was studying whether or not to extradite him.

Heywood had close relations to the family of Bo Xilai, ousted former Party chief of Chongqing. But those ties had soured.

Bo's dismissal in April came after his former police chief fled to a US consulate and divulged suspicions that Bo's wife, Gu Kailai, was involved in Heywood's death.

Gu and a household aide have been named as suspects in the death.

News reports have said that Devillers was closely linked to Bo, Gu and Heywood. It is not clear if he is accused of any crimes in China or elsewhere.

Kanharith said Devillers had been living openly in Cambodia. French embassy officials there said they had been informed of the arrest, but no reason had been given.

It is understood Devillers was arrested on June 13 and that the French consul has had daily visits with him.



 

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