Chinese prosecutors have begun to investigate death of a prisoner at a detention house in north China's Hebei Province, according to government sources on Saturday.

The male prisoner, Zhai Junbao, who was arrested by police for theft and held at a detention house in Shunping County in January, died on February 16.

An autopsy report given by the Hebei University Medical Science showed he died of toxic shock caused by lobar pneumonia.

Zhai's family has raised doubts on his death.

The head of the detention house has been suspended from job for the duration of the investigation, according to the police sources.

(Xinhua News Agency March 22, 2009)