An official in east China's Zhejiang Province jumped to his death Thursday after he was accused of embezzling government funds, local authorities said Saturday.

Xia Yi, 32, a vice director of and accountant in the Transportation Bureau of Jiaojiang District, Taizhou City, jumped from the fourth floor of his office building Thursday evening. He later died in hospital.

The bureau suspected Xia embezzled about 5.3 million yuan (796,060 U.S. dollars) in two separate thefts.

Xia returned part of the money on Wednesday. He jumped out of the building after his bosses claimed he had not returned all the money he had taken, asking him to inform the local procuratorate of his theft.

Xia was a well-known commentator on a local TV news program.

Further investigations are underway.