A government official from Hunan province in charge of public security has been found bludgeoned to death by a hammer in a hotel room.
Police confirmed an investigation into the death of Xiao Penjin is under way but refused to comment further on the case.
Xiao, a 52-year-old deputy secretary-general in the Chenzhou municipal government, was found by a hotel maid on Monday evening in a luxury suite at the Chenzhou Hotel.
A mobile phone and more than 10,000 yuan was found with the body.
Reports in the local media said police sealed off the hotel soon after receiving the maid's call, and all hotel staff were brought in for questioning. Early on Tuesday, the body was removed from the hotel.
After leaving the army, Xiao joined the Chenzhou government and was responsible for urban construction, public security and firefighting.
