Missing millionaire found dead

The family have not been seen for 10 weeks

Police trying to unravel the disappearance of a millionaire and his family, say the man has been found dead.

Amarjit Chohan, 46, his wife Nancy, 25, their two young sons aged three months and 18 months and Mrs Chohan's 51-year-old mother, all from Hounslow, west London, have not been seen since 16 February.

Police have confirmed that Mr Chohan's body was found in the sea close to Bournemouth pier in Dorset by a canoeist on 22 April, but it was not positively identified until Thursday.

A post-mortem examination has been carried out, but it has failed to find out the how he died. Further examinations will be conducted "in due course".

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said they are still actively investigating the whereabouts of the rest of the family and were liaising with police in Dorset.

Detectives are baffled by the family's disappearance.

They had not packed many belongings and no money was taken from their bank accounts.

Fake letter

But their passports are missing and a letter sent from Calais, France, apparently signed by Mr Chohan, said he was tired of life in England. Police now think it is fake.

Detectives say the family car, a Ford Escort, was involved in an accident in the Southampton area a week after the family last seen, but they do not believe any member of the family was using it.

Two men in the car at the time of the accident gave false details and have yet to be traced.

Mr Chohan was a successful businessman who built his company, CIBA Freight, into a business which employs 30 people and has a £4.5m annual turnover.

New Zealand brother

In the week of the disappearance, Mr Chohan signed a power of attorney handing over control of the company to two of his employees.

He was last seen at the company in Southall, west London, on 14 February.

Mrs Chohan's brother Onker Verma, 28, who lives in New Zealand, first reported the family missing.

He has since come to England and is now being comforted by friends and family.