SEALED FOR INVESTIGATION: The police condone off his house as they start the probe on Hu’s death.
SIBU: The son of a prominent businessman is believed to have committed suicide by inhaling carbon monoxide from burning charcoal in the store room of his house here yesterday.
Hu King Chang, a businessman, was found dead in the room at noon when his friend climbed in to check on him. According to the friend, the room was still warm from the embers of the charcoal.
The friend immediately informed Hu’s family members and the police. A police team led by Senior Investigating Officer ASP Yeoh Chun Shyang found no foul play in his death.
Friends and relatives who heard of the suicide news were shocked, as they described 42-year-old Hu as a happy-go-lucky man. They said he had never showed sign of distress.
CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION: ASP Yeoh discusses with his policemen on the possible death of Hu.
His neighbour said they saw Hu mowing the lawn at 6pm on Saturday.
The police believed Hu could have been dead for about 18 hours when they checked on his body at noon. Hu was staying with his wife in the semi-detached house.
His wife who was in Kuching on Saturday had called him repeatedly but received no answer.
She became suspicious and called a friend to check on him at the house. The friend arrived at noon to find it locked, and Hu’s car in the compound.
After failing to get any response through his handphone, he climbed in over the gate and entered the house through an unlocked window and found Hu in the sealed store room.
Hu’s father – a timber tycoon – is active in the business circle here.
Hu’s suicide is the third in three days here.
On Friday evening, an Australian teacher of an international school also killed herself in her house at Delta Estate by hanging herself with her scarf.
She was found by her house maid.
In the wee hours of Saturday, a 27-year-old man in Sibu Jaya tried to kill himself by drinking a glass of water mixed with weed killer.
The incident was discovered when the man vomitted.
His family rushed him to the hospital.