TWO former executives of a Jiamusi Branch of the Agricultural Bank of China (AOC) in Heilongjiang Province accused of misusing bank funds had both died, according to a report in yesterday's Beijing Times.

An official of the Jianan sub-branch of AOC in Jiamusi City, who declined to give his name, was quoted by the newspaper as saying branch deputy manager Li Xinglong had died in a fall from a building on March 17 and Yu Dongpo had died after drinking an industrial chemical 10 days later.

A bank employee said Li was questioned by the supervision bureau before he fell from the building and Yu was suspected of being involved in the misappropriation of more than 1 million yuan.

Irregularities such as fund misuse were exposed during an audit of the Jiamusi branch in March.

"The two chiefs overspent more than 1 million yuan," the official said.

The city's bank regulatory authorities are investigating the deaths.

(Han Ximin)