29 June 2009

Missing Banker's Body Found In Woods

The body of a Dutch banker has been found in woodland days after he went missing.

Huibert Boumeester, the former financial officer at ABN Amro, was found in woodland in Winkfield, Windsor, Berkshire, on Sunday morning.

Fears had grown for the safety of the high-flying financier when he missed a business appointment and it emerged he had disappeared with one of his registered shotguns.

Police said two of his shotguns had also gone missing from his homes in London and Scotland.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said he could not confirm the identity of the dead man, but said: "He is believed to have died from gunshot wounds.

"At the moment it is being treated as an unexplained death. A definite cause of death has not been established."

Mr Boumeester had been on the board of the Dutch bank ABN Amro and a number of other City firms. However, the board was taken over by RBS in a £50 billion deal.

Records show Mr Boumeester was paid a £440,000 salary at ABN but there was speculation his pay could have risen to £600,000 in 2007, a year after he was appointed to the board.

His car, a blue 56-registration Range Rover, also went missing last week.

(JM/BMcC)