A French architect who has become embroiled in the fall-out from the suspected
murder of a British businessman is reportedly being 'held under guard' in
China.
Frenchman Patrick Henri Devillers has his passport checked by an immigration official at Phonm Penh International Airport Photo: Reuters
Patrick Henri Devillers, 52, flew to Shanghai from Cambodia on Tuesday evening
having been arrested in Phnom Penh, where he lived, on June 13. Cambodia's
information minister said he would be held in China for 60 days.
Mr Devillers is believed to have been close to Gu Kailai, the wife of
disgraced politician, Bo Xilai. Ms Gu is currently prime suspect in a highly
secretive investigation into the alleged poisoning of British businessman
Neil Heywood.
Mr Heywood's body was found inside a room at Chongqing's Lucky Holiday Hotel
last November and according to recent reports may have been killed after
threatening to reveal an elaborate scheme Ms Gu had been using to channel
billions of dollars out of China.
The suspected murder has triggered what many describe as China's biggest
political crisis in decades. Mr Bo, a man once tipped to reach the pinnacle
of Chinese politics, was toppled from his position as Chongqing's party
secretary in March and since then both he and Ms Gu have disappeared from
the public eye. Their current whereabouts is unknown.
The ongoing scandal – which comes on the eve of China's once-in-a-decade
leadership transition this autumn - has also thrust Mr Devillers, who had
been living in anonymity in Cambodia, into the spotlight.
A one-time friend of Mr Bo and Ms Gu, Mr Devillers lived in China during the
1990s and was married to a Chinese woman. He is also believed to have had
business dealings and – according to some reports - a personal relationship
with Ms Gu with whom he shared a Bournemouth address between 2000 and 2003.
He was arrested in Cambodia last month at the behest of Chinese authorities
who want to question him about the financial dealings of Mr Bo and Ms Gu.
While there have been no formal accusations against Mr Devillers,
authorities also hope he can shed some light on why Ms Gu might have wanted
Mr Heywood dead.
Cambodian officials refused to extradite Mr Devillers to China and were keen
to portray his return this week as a voluntary decision.
On Thursday Cambodian police posted a video of Mr Devillers on the internet,
showing him inside a VIP area at Phnom Penh's airport shortly before his
flight to Shanghai. In a brief interview, Mr Devillers said it was "totally
true" that he was "leaving freely".
"I am now going to Shanghai, probably connecting from there to Beijing,
to cooperate with the inquiry into Gu Kailai," he said.
But despite speculation that Mr Devillers' return indicated he had received
assurances of immunity from possible prosecution, Cambodia's information
minister, Khieu Kanharith, told the Wall Street Journal that the architect
had been taken into custody on arrival in China.
The minister said Mr Devillers would be held for 60 days and would be released
if he was not found to have committed offenses.
"China promised to detain him [for] 60 days until September. He will be
allowed to be free if China finds he isn't involved with the cases," he
said.
Another source said Mr Devillers "hadn't been officially detained, but
was being held under guard by Chinese authorities." French diplomats in
China have refused to discuss Mr Devillers' situation but are likely to be
alarmed by reports about his situation.
Mr Devillers' arrival in China has been interpreted by some as a sign
authorities may be wrapping up their investigations into Mr Gu and Mr Bo
ahead of potential trials.
Unconfirmed reports this week that Mr Bo may have been forced to treat a heart
condition in hospital fuelled rumours that his judgement may be delayed
until after the 18th Party Congress scheduled for October or November.
But a well-placed source in Chongqing told the Sunday Telegraph that
authorities would be unlikely to delay.
"The likelihood is very low. If this [Mr Bo's trial] isn't settled, they
won't be able to hold the 18th Congress," the source said, adding that
an ongoing struggle between Mr Bo's supporters and his opponents meant
deciding how to resolve his case was dragging on.
"[But] it is very unlikely that the two sides fail to compromise and
reach an agreement [on Mr Bo's case] before the 18th Congress. Otherwise the
boat will capsize and both sides will die."
