德维莱尔飞赴中国协助薄案调查

A French architect linked to the family of disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai has flown to China where he is set to be questioned by the Communist authorities over his business links to Mr Bo and his wife.

与倒台的中国高官薄熙来一家有关联的一名法国建筑师已飞赴中国。据信中共有关部门将就他与薄熙来夫妇的生意联系对他进行讯问。

The French foreign ministry said Patrick Devillers, who is under consular protection by Paris, had voluntarily agreed to travel to China to co-operate with the Chinese judiciary. He had been detained in Phnom Penh by Cambodian authorities since June 13.

法国外交部表示，得到法方领事保护的帕特里克·德维莱尔(Patrick Devillers)，自愿同意前往中国，与中国司法部门合作。此前他从6月13日起被柬埔寨当局拘押在金边。

“He told our ambassador that he had obtained a certain number of guarantees from the Chinese authorities, a spokesman for the ministry said yesterday, without giving further details.

“他告诉我国大使，他已从中国当局获得某些保证，法国外交部一名发言人昨日表示。他没有提供进一步细节。

Mr Devillers left Phnom Penh on a late night flight to Shanghai on Tuesday, according to a reporter from the Cambodia Daily who was shown his check-in details.

据《柬埔寨日报》(Cambodia Daily)的一名记者表示，德维莱尔周二深夜搭乘飞往上海的航班离开了金边。这名记者看到了德维莱尔的登机资料。

China wants Mr Devillers to assist in its investigation into Mr Bo, the former Communist party boss of the western city of Chongqing purged from the senior leadership ranks this year.

中国想要询问德维莱尔，目的是让他协助对薄熙来的调查。薄熙来原来是西部城市重庆的党委书记，今年被逐出高级领导层圈子。

Like Neil Heywood, the British businessman whose death Mr Bo’s wife Gu Kailai has been linked to by Chinese authorities, Mr Devillers was close to the Bo family. An investigation by the Financial Times found that Mr Devillers played an important role in securing at least part of the family’s jet-setting life, including the purchase of luxury apartments in London.

就像已故的英国商人尼尔·海伍德(Neil Heywood)一样（中国官方称海伍德系死于他杀，而薄熙来之妻谷开来有重大作案嫌疑），德维莱尔也曾与薄家关系密切。据英国《金融时报》调查发现，德维莱尔至少在薄家一部分财富的获取过程中扮演了重要角色，包括在伦敦购置豪华公寓。

“France was not party to the discussions which took place in Phnom Penh between Mr Devillers and the Chinese authorities, the foreign ministry spokesman said. “We therefore have no comment on them. Mr Devillers will continue to benefit from the full consular protection of our embassy in Beijing.

“在德维莱尔与中国当局在金边进行的商讨中，法国并不是当事人，法国外交部发言人表示，“因此我们对这些商讨无可奉告。德维莱尔先生将继续从我国在北京的大使馆得到全面领事保护。

Mr Devillers had lived in Cambodia for more than five years and has children with a Cambodian partner.

德维莱尔在柬埔寨生活已有5年多，与一位柬埔寨伴侣育有子女。

Khieu Sopheak, a Cambodian interior ministry spokesman, said last week that Mr Devillers was willing to go to China to assist authorities.

柬埔寨内政部发言人乔索菲克(Khieu Sopheak)上周表示，德维莱尔愿意前往中国协助官方调查。

However, some government officials privately told western business sources in Phnom Penh that there was a lot of negotiation between the French government and the Chinese to persuade Mr Devillers to go. They suggested that guarantees had been negotiated, including for Mr Devillers’ safety.

不过，一些政府官员私下告诉在金边的西方商界消息人士，法国政府与中方进行了大量谈判，目的是劝说德维莱尔动身去一趟中国。他们暗示，双方谈判达成了一些保证，包括关于德维莱尔人身安全的保证。

No reporter has been able to talk to Mr Devillers since his arrest and detention.

自德维莱尔被捕及被拘押以来，没有任何记者得到与他交谈的机会。

China’s ruling Communist party has said Mr Bo is being investigated for alleged “severe discipline violations, a phrase often used to refer to corruption, and party sources said investigators were looking at funds the couple had transferred abroad.

中国执政的共产党表示，薄熙来正因涉嫌“严重违纪接受调查，这种措辞往往是指腐败。党内消息人士称，调查人员在追查薄氏夫妇转移到海外的资金。

When Cambodian authorities first arrested Mr Devillers last month, they said China had asked for his extradition – a process that in most legal systems can only be started for those charged with a crime.

柬埔寨当局上月抓捕德维莱尔后，最初曾表示中国请求引渡他。在多数法律制度下，只能对被控犯罪的人启动引渡程序。

The Chinese foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

中国外交部没有回应记者的置评请求。

A lawyer in Phnom Penh said the case illustrated the struggle between France and China for influence in Cambodia. “France is an important country for Cambodia, but the Chinese can trump them – if they so desire.

金边的一名律师表示，本案展示了法国与中国在柬埔寨争夺影响力的较量。“法国对柬埔寨是一个重要的国家，但中国能够压倒法国——如果他们渴望这么做的话。