China local finance chief's killing sparks shock and speculation

Police say official was killed by two men, who then jumped off building

20240919 Hunan Provincial Department of Finance

Liu Wenjie headed the budget department and financial supervision bureau in Hunan province. She was killed on Sept. 19, police said. (Source photos from AP and Hunan Provincial Department of Finance)

CISSY ZHOU, Nikkei staff writer

September 20, 2024 10:31 JST

Updated on September 21, 2024 10:09 JST

HONG KONG -- The killing of a key financial official in the central Chinese province of Hunan has triggered a flurry of speculation in the country's media and online platforms.

Liu Wenjie, who headed the budget department and financial supervision bureau in Hunan, was killed at the official residence of the local finance bureau Thursday morning. Two male suspects, aged 35 and 31 and both surnamed Jiang, also died by falling from an upper floor of the building, according to a statement from local police.