An official in Hubei Province found dead in his office with multiple stab wounds committed suicide, the Gong'an county government has claimed on its website. An explanation that has stirred up even more controversy.

Xie Yexin, 46, a member of the Gong'an county discipline inspection commission, was found dead in his office Saturday, according to a press release issued by the county government.

Xie's body was riddled with wounds, including a fatal one in his chest, but his clothes were not mangled and there was no sign of a struggle, the statement said.

A knife with its handle wrapped in tissue paper was found on the floor. The release said it's similar to one missing from Xie's home.

"Xie's autopsy showed he died of hemorrhagic shock caused by a broken vena. All his wounds meet the characteristics of suicide," the notice said.

But Xie's family diagrees with the conclusion. There were 11 wounds on his body, and it is unnecessary to commit suicide with a knife wrapped in tissue paper, Xie's family told the Wuhan-based Chutian Metropolis Daily

"On the day Xie died, his mood was docile and he called several people. He planned to send his daughter to school on Sunday. Obviously, Xie had no motive to commit suicide," a family member was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
 
Authorities maintain he killed himself.

"We think he committed suicide. It is not a criminal case and we have no obligation to investigate." Wang Jianping, a vice director of the Gong'an Security Bureau, said at a news conference held on Monday.

Wang said they found Xie's mobile phone turned off but refused to give any details about this phone record because of "something confidential."

More than a month ago, Xie was part of an investigation into a corruption case involving the county's deputy Party secretary, Liu Baojun. Wang denies the death could have anything to do with that investigation because Xie was taken off the case a month ago.

Xie had been in his position for 17 years and didn't apply for a recent promotional opportunity, said Guan Haoxiang, a deputy secretary of the discipline inspection commission.

"Xie was nice, honest and hard working," Guan was quoted by the Beijing News as saying.

By on Tuesday evening, Xie's death had attracted more than 130,000 web users' comments on 163.com, one of the leading news portal in China.

"Does a suicide need 11 jabs?" one Web user asked.

Luo Wei contributed to this story