Founder of China's Yongjin commits suicide -source

HONG KONG/SHANGHAI, April 30 (Reuters) - Chinese entrepreneur Wei Dong, founder and chairman of closely held Yongjin Group, which controls Sinolink Securities (600109.SS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Jiuzhitang Co 000989.SZ, has committed suicide, a source familiar with the situation said on Wednesday.

Caijing magazine, one of China's leading financial publications, reported on its website on Wednesday that Wei had been under investigation by government authorities when he killed himself. It added that the reason for the investigation was not known.

A Sinolink representative could not be immediately reached for comment.

Shares in Sinolink and Jiuzhitang, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, were suspended from trading on Wednesday pending announcements. (Reporting by Qu Guijian and Samuel Shen; Editing by Edmund Klamann)