Investigators denied that torture or overwork were tied to the death of an inmate in a re-education center in northern China, though his corpse was discovered to be emaciated and weighing only 35 kilograms.

Dong Xiongbo, 179 centimeters tall, was found with his body out of shape - "a skeleton only with skin covered," The Beijing News yesterday quoted an online post as saying.

However, a task force into Dong's death said the victim died of infection and respiratory failure triggered by tuberculosis. Dong died while receiving medical treatment in hospital outside the Hehuakeng re-education center in Tangshan City, China News Service quoted Tangshan's deputy prosecutor-general Zheng Yingxiang as saying.

"No delay for his treatment or other violations including torture or overwork have been discovered," Zheng added.

Dong, a 35-year-old Beijing native, was penalized to a year of re-education through labor after he was seized last May for ticket scalping.

According to Zheng, Dong felt uncomfortable this February and was approved for on-leave treatment in Tangshan tuberculosis hospital a month after.

From then on, Tang spent his last days there with his family, according to Zheng.

"No cuts or injuries, Dong's death was due to the disease," said Zheng citing a forensic report.

However, the online post, which was the first to reveal Dong's death, alleged that Dong was forced to work when he was sick.

"Dong even passed out at the working site," alleged the post.