A DEPUTY chief with the Shenzhen Forest Public Security Sub-bureau has been detained for 10 days after fleeing an accident on Meigang South Street in Futian District on Monday.

    Zhong Yujun, 48, was also fined 10,000 yuan (US$1,613) and has had his driver’s license suspended for three months after fleeing the accident on foot. He crashed the police car he was driving into a Bentley parked on the side of the road. He has also been suspended from duty.

    A preliminary investigation showed Zhong left his office after dinner at around 7:44 p.m. and hit the car, which was parked about 300 meters away from the sub-bureau.

    After the accident, Zhong went back to his office with the help of a security guard and left the office 10 minutes later in a taxi, police said.

    At around 9 p.m. Zhong went back to the office and reported the accident to the bureau.

    He was not detained or arrested after reporting the accident. Zhong left the bureau at 9:40 p.m, according to a statement issued by the police.

    Zhong handed himself in to police at 12:40 p.m. the next day, 17 hours after the accident.

    A blood test showed there was no alcohol in his blood. According to police, a person’s body could be completely free of alcohol 12 hours after drinking.

    Zhong said he didn’t drink while dining in the sub-bureau with his colleagues. The colleagues also claimed they weren’t aware if Zhong had been drinking alcohol during the dinner. The security guard who helped Zhong get back to his office also said he didn’t smell alcohol on Zhong.

    Police are now investigating what Zhong had been doing in the 17 hours before he turned himself in and if he had been drinking at dinner.

    Authorities are also checking if Zhong used his official car for private purposes. (Han Ximin)