Business owner found dead on cargo train

By Yang Lifei  |   2008-11-11  |     ONLINE EDITION

POLICE in neighboring Jiangsu Province are investigating the death of a business owner and local People’s Congress member, whose body was found on a cargo train in Shanxi Province, according to a newspaper.

Zhu Xiaoyu, 56, was reported missing on November 4. Two days later he was found dead at a railway station about 60 kilometers from Taiyuan City, capital of Shanxi, Modern Express reported today.

The report said he died of head injuries and that none of Zhu’s belongings were stolen.

Zhu was part owner of Jiangsu Province-based Osland Painting Co Ltd in Nanjing City and had personal assets worth more than 10 million yuan (US$1.4 million).

Zhu’s chauffeur was the last to see him before he disappeared.

On the day he disappeared, Zhu asked to be dropped off at the entrance to his home in order to collect some stuff about 10am. He said he would return in about five minutes.

However, Zhu did not turn up. His chauffeur called his cell phone and was told not to leave, according to the report.

``I sensed something unusual in his tone and he seemed to be speaking from inside a car,’’ the chauffeur told the newspaper. ``I had thought he must have taken another car.’’

When nobody could reach Zhu later that day, his family and colleagues alerted police. Two days later, police in Shanxi Province reported that Zhu had been found dead at a railway station. A worker found Zhu’s body with his ID card in his pocket, the report said.

Company workers told the newspaper that about 20 days prior to Zhu’s death, five men with knives broke into a factory and destroyed a car.

``It is possible that business rivals killed Zhu,’’ they were quoted as saying.

Zhu’s employees said he was not only a successful businessman with a happy family, but that he was also elected a member of Gaochun County People’s Congress. His wife is a teacher and their son has grown up. Zhu was kind to others and always chatted with ordinary people, the report said.