A branch head of a delivery company in Shandong province has been arrested by police in a case in which a man died after receiving a contaminated parcel, China National Radio reported on Thursday.

The arrest of the suspect, surnamed Mei, was approved by the local procuratorate body in Guangrao county.

Police also applied to arrest two other suspects, a manager of a chemical company in Weifang city, Shandong province, and a head of a chemical plant in Hubei province.

Liu Xingliang, a resident of Shandong province, died on Nov 29 after receiving a pair of shoes delivered by YTO Express Co, a private delivery company.

Nine others became sick after also receiving contaminated parcels delivered by the same company.

Investigations found that 154 parcels in one vehicle were contaminated by a parcel containing toxic chemicals sent by the chemical plant.