Jailed Chinese tycoon and ally of disgraced princeling Bo Xilai dies of heart attack

Family and top firm managers shocked by death of Dalian Shide founder Xu Ming

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Xu Ming, former chairman of Dalian Shide Group, pictured during Bo Xilai's trial in 2013. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Published: 10:15pm, 6 Dec 2015Updated: 11:12am, 7 Dec 2015

A former high-flying Dalian tycoon associated with disgraced princeling Bo Xilai reportedly died of a heart attack in a Hubei prison on Friday, roughly nine months before he was due to be released, mainland media reported yesterday.

Xu Ming, 44, founded Dalian Shide – a conglomerate that ranged from construction materials to insurance, real estate and soccer – in 1992 and was one of the mainland’s youngest billionaires.

He was jailed for four years in late 2012 for offering Bo and his family 20.6 million yuan (HK$24.9 million) in bribes.

READ MORE: Bo Guagua, son of jailed Chinese official Bo Xilai, appears in public at New York book signing

Bo Xilai (left) with Xu Ming in happier times. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Xu’s trial was closed to the public but he testified at Bo’s trial in August 2013 as the main briber of the former Chongqing party chief.

It was his last appearance in public.

Senior Shide management and members of Xu’s family arrived in Wuhan on Saturday, business news outlet Caixin reported.

Prism, an investigative website operated by Tencent, said Xu’s ashes were handed over to his family in Dalian yesterday. A short memorial service was held before the ashes were interred.