A man, 72, killed himself by drinking a pesticide after he was questioned by police over the alleged rape of a mentally challenged girl under 14 in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province.

The man surnamed Shen was found dead in his home on Saturday, Nanjing-based Modern Express reported yesterday.

Shen never married and made a living by collecting and recycling garbage.

The girl, born in November 1995, was found to be four months pregnant after displaying strong maternal instincts.

Having sex with a girl under 14 is defined as statutory rape in China.

The girl told her father that Shen had had sex with her and gave her biscuits and candies as well as 5 yuan (73 US cents) in cash.

Her father said one of his relatives opened a restaurant adjacent to Shen's home. Shen met his daughter at the restaurant when she worked as a waitress.

The girl's family called police on Friday and Shen was questioned at a police station between 8 am and 5 pm. He was found dead in his bed the next morning. A pesticide was found on a bedside table.

A forensic test showed Shen had the pesticide in his stomach contents, police said.