LAHORE, Aug 10: Police on Wednesday began investigation into the murder of a former federal minorities minister with property atop probable motives. Derek Cyprian, 57, was found dead on Tuesday, three days after he went missing from a bank in Defence. His body was found dumped in a drain in Manga Mandi. His hands and legs had been tied with ropes, and he seemed to have been strangled.

“The late Derek Cyprian has lately been involved in some property deals. Some of the deals have been controversial,” a member of the two teams set up by the city police chief to probe the murder said.

He claimed that the former minister had an over Rs10 million deal with someone in Dubai some days ago. “We are also looking into this transaction.”

Mr Cyprian had served as federal minister in 1999 after President Musharraf took over. He continued serving as the minister until the PML formed its government.

Hina Cyprian, the daughter of the deceased, had registered a kidnap case on Monday. She told the police that her father had left his house in Shadab Colony on Ferozpur Road for a bank in Defence on Aug 6.

She said she approached the bank when her father did not return until Aug 7. The bank manager confirmed her that her father had visited him. He told her that her father parked his car outside the bank and left in another car with someone whom he did not know.

The case has been turned into a kidnap-cum-murder case with no arrest. The body was returned to the family after an autopsy on Tuesday and buried on Wednesday.