Shanghai, China: Authorities have arrested a suspect in the case of the death by alleged poisoning of a billionaire founder of a video game company.
Lin Qi, 39, whose company Yoozoo Games Co., also known as Youzu Interactive makes movies based on the popular sci-fi novel “The Three-Body Problem” passed away last Christmas after being hospitalized.
A police report said one of Mr. Qi’s coworkers identified by the surname Xu, was brought in for questioning. According to the police, the victim was brought to a hospital on December 17 and diagnosed with possible poisoning but no further details were disclosed.
Lin Qi, Yoozoo CEO and producer on Netflix's 'Three-Body Problem' adaptation, dies amid poisoning probe https://t.co/OZwdGV3NQd pic.twitter.com/v1ZZu86v5M
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) December 27, 2020
Citing Chinese media, The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Mr. Qi allegedly was sickened after drinking a cup of poisoned pu-erh tea.
A company worker who answered the phone last Monday at the Shanghai police press briefing said no additional information was provided on the case.
According to business magazine Caixin, the suspect was employed at Youzu Interactive’s film branch and was taking part in the “The Three-Body Problem” project.
The Three-Body Problem Producer Lin Qi Has Died Following Alleged Poisoning by Colleague https://t.co/pECvXVrjJU pic.twitter.com/IS86TZI1aF
— Gizmodo (@Gizmodo) December 26, 2020
The book is now being adapted as a Netflix series produced by “Game of Thrones” creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, with Mr. Qi being an executive producer for the project.
Mr. Qi’s company is also famous for its video game “Game of Thrones: Winter Is Coming.”
He is ranked at 870 for the richest Chinese entrepreneurs with an estimated worth of 6.8 billion yuan ($1 billion), as per the Hurun Report.