A noted Belgian academic who had published more than 500 academic papers and was a senior executive working for Russian steelmaker NLMK, has been found dead after falling from a nine-storey building.

A report in the The Sun, a UK tabloid, claims that Dr. De Cooman, who was recently appointed vice president for research and development at NLMK, was completely sober and died in mid-afternoon. His shocked colleagues said there were no signs that he was suicidal.

While a police investigation is underway, the circumstances of Dr De Cooman's death remain unclear.

Vladimir Lisin, the oligarch owner of NLMK, lost an estimated 4% of his £632 million fortune following tax hikes on mining companies proposed by President Vladimir Putin's top economic adviser. According to a report by the BBC, the money raised will fund social spending increases.