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Foul play ruled out in police custody death

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-18 15:28

BAISE, Guangxi -- Authorities in south China have ruled out foul play in the death in police custody of a man suspected of running an illegal gambling operation.

Communist Party of China officials in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region confirmed Thursday they had no evidence that force was involved in the death of Huang Jinshui, who died after falling from a fourth floor window.

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They also ruled out suspicions that extortion or blackmail being involved in his death.

Officials from the Baise City Party Committee called a press conference late Wednesday to announce the findings of an investigation into the death of Huang, 46.

The press conference lasted for 10 minutes and was attended by journalists from several media organizations, relatives of Huang, including his sister, He Jinfang, and deputies of Tianlin County People's Congress and members of Tianlin County Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

A Baise publicity official surnamed Wang said at the conference that Huang died of severe internal injuries caused by a fall from the fourth floor of the police bureau building.

He cited an autopsy report produced by a joint investigative group comprising Guangxi autonomous regional government officials, and prosecutors from Baise City Procuratorate and medical specialists.

Huang, a native of Tianlin County in Guangxi, had allegedly operated a casino known as "Xinxing Playroom".

Acting on tip-offs, police raided Xinxing Playroom on Friday, seizing 61 gambling machines and other items, including three home-made guns, and detaining 24 suspected gamblers. The police also detained three alleged casino managers the same day.

However, police did not detain Huang until early Sunday, when they took him to Baise City Security Bureau. His relatives were informed of his death later that day.

Wang said Huang went to the toilet on the fourth floor during his interrogation on the third floor at about 4 a.m. Sunday. He fell from the toilet window.

Wang would answer no other questions on Huang's death.

Phone calls to He Jinfang's cell phone went unanswered.