A French architect questioned in China as part of an investigation into the country’s biggest political scandal in decades has returned to his home in Cambodia, a government official said on Friday.
Patrick Henri Devillers, 52, came back to the capital, Phnom Penh, this month after helping authorities in China with their investigation of Gu Kailai, who was given a suspended death sentence on August 20 after confessing to the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood.
Gu, who had business links with Devillers, is the wife of deposed politician Bo Xilai, whose career came to an abrupt halt after a top policeman who had sought refuge in a US consulate said Bo had covered up Heywood’s murder.
“He returned to Cambodia two weeks ago,” Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said by telephone.
“In Cambodia, he has not committed any crime, he is a legal immigrant, he has a Cambodian wife, a family and he volunteered to go China and that case is over now.”
Devillers’ neighbour, Prim Vy, said by telephone that he had spotted the Frenchman five days ago at his home in Phnom Penh.