Expat’s blackmail threat leads to his murder (?)

This is not a headline that has appeared so far in the Neil Heywood case. But newspaper reports and unconfirmed sources are stating that a money laundering operation is at the heart of the murder, with the late Mr. Heywood as the “fixer” for Bo Xilai's wife Gu Kailai. It would not surprise me if this angle, of a disagreement about percentages to be paid for the transaction, is the next in detail story to hit the headlines. Yet it could be just gossip.

Current Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State, William Hague stated:

"We now wish to see the conclusion of a full investigation that observes due process, is free from political interference, exposes the truth behind this tragic case, and ensures that justice is done."

Although purges - or “political interference” in Hague speak - were common in Mao’s time, current policy seems not to give severe sentences to politburo members. This would explain Bo Xilai’s suspension on allegations of "serious discipline violations". Presumably this includes the alleged womanizing with whores, CCTV presenters and celebrities?

Personally I feel Hague’s statement may become a hostage to fortune, but it will subdue partly the MPs who are clamouring for chapter and verse on the role of UK officials in China and in the UK.

So how will this play out? I wonder will Cameron or Hague make any comment if a death sentence is the verdict, thus ensuring “that justice is done.” If the death sentence is the outcome, is it probable that it will be the orderly Zhang Xiaojun who will be executed? Or will it extend to Ms Gu?

It would seem to be rank hypocrisy for the UK to condemn China, as it has in the past, for the number of executions carried out, and then say nothing. Expect something like “China is a sovereign nation and its laws are for China to implement”, because after all this is a Chinese national(s) and not a British citizen who will be subject to the penalty.

In the face of Western criticism of the crimes for which the ultimate penalty was given, last year China did reduce the number of economic crimes that merited the death sentence. However, there is clearly a lot of dirty money involved here and if the unconfirmed reports turn out to be true, then the late Mr. Heywood is not blemish-free.

Another 'report' stated that Mr Bo’s salary was about $300 a month. No, I haven’t missed off any noughts, but if it is true that top-ranking officials earn so little, it shouldn’t surprise us that these officials will be into other deals (legal and illegal) to supplement this meagre income. It’s less than an FT earns!

What will happen to former Chongqing police chief Wang Lijun, who it is alleged cleaned up parts of the city and got confessions through torture, including it is also alleged, the torturing of his own police officers who would not follow his orders? Or is this part of the character assasination that will be applied to all the characters who split the Party?

Why didn’t the British official(s) who were present at the cremation ask for a post-mortem report?

Why are the staff at the hotel where Mr Heywood met his end now claiming this week that their records only go back a month? Are they stupid? Or is this just the media not getting any information and making it up?' How will the judiciary be able to prove he was even at the hotel, that we are also informed has closed circuit TV? And in China the country that almost invented bureaucracy? This is what is normally referred to as “closing ranks”, if it turns out to be accurate.

At a time when both Mr. Heywood’s family in China and the UK want honest answers and closure, such conjecture does not help. But this story will run its course in mainstream and state media, each putting its own spin on the details as there remain so many unanswered questions. Strange how many respectable Western newspapers were saying last year how this new style of politics as shown by Mr Bo, was a welcome change from the dour suits in the Beijing office.

My sympathies are with Mr Heywood’s Chinese wife and two children – what an ordeal.