BUJUMBURA, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Nine persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in killing an Italian surgeon at his house in the Burundian capital Bujumbura earlier this month, the country's attorney general has said.
The Italian surgeon Francesco de Simone was found dead on July 3 at his house at Kiriri residential area in the Burundian capital Bujumbura. Police said he had been stabbed.
"Nine suspects have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the assassination of the Italian national who worked at Kira Hospital. After the assassination of Francesco de Simone, a police search was operated at the victim's house in Kiriri residential area and some documents were found at his house," Burundian Attorney General Sylvestre Nyandwi said in a statement Monday.
According to Nyandwi, investigations have revealed that Diane Persson Ciza, the Italian's concubine, is among the "main suspects" in the killing of the Italian surgeon.
"Some fake documents showed that Diane Persson Ciza was the consul of Sweden in Burundi, but after talking to the foreign ministry, it was revealed that no consul of Sweden was in Burundi," Nyandwi said.
He added that investigations are still underway to elucidate circumstances on the assassination of Francesco de Simone.
