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Family disputes lead to suicide of Chinese official

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-05 23:46

HANGZHOU - Investigation showed the death of a female vice mayor in east China's Zhejiang Province was a suicide after a family row, police said Tuesday.

Ni Lingmei, vice mayor of Huzhou City, died early Saturday morning after jumping out of the window of her home on the 29th storey, police said. They ruled out murder after an on-the-spot investigation, interviews of witnesses, reviews of video data and an autopsy.

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Investigation showed that Ni, 50, became agitated after a quarrel with her husband and then committed suicide.

The couple had long been on bad terms and were recently divided over paying the medical costs of Ni's mother, police said.

Their son, who studied abroad, told police that he made calls and sent text messages to persuade them to calm down late Friday night.

Sources with the Huzhou Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection said Ni was not found to be involved in any corruption cases.