Bo Xilai accomplice’s location uncertain

Patrick Devillers, the French national and associate of disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai, seemed to be putting down roots in Cambodia. The architect – whose shadowy presence has been on the fringes of one of modern China’s largest political scandals – owned land and a restaurant in Kep, according to friends and neighbours, and recently extended the lease on his home, planning both an addition to his house and an expansion of his business in Cambodia. However, with his arrest by Cambodian authorities at China’s behest, Devillers’ future is in diplomatic limbo as Cambodia weighs the legality of extraditing a French citizen to face unspecified charges in China. … The date coincided with a visit to Cambodia from He Guoqiang, head of China’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, an agency that polices corruption among China’s highest-ranking officials, and is therefore considered likely to be handling Bo Xilai’s case. He was in town to attend a signing ceremony for a $430 million loan from China to Cambodia to be used for public works and infrastructure improvements. ….