A restaurant owner from Nanzhao county in Henan, China, has died from injuries sustained after he was brutally attacked by four men, three of which are allegedly government officials.

According to Huashuang Newspaper, the incident took place on Saturday when the four men were dining at Li Jinming's restaurant.

Li's son, Li Xiangyang, told reporters that the group of men were made up of a land resources director, a procuratorate staff member, an officer from the agricultural bureau and one of their relatives.

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A fight had broken out when it was time to pay for the meal and the group had insisted on using their government status as payment instead of cash. In China, government officials are entitled to perks such as "public funds," which allow them to dine for free.

However, because the restaurant's staff did not recognise the group of men, they were refused the entitlement, which angered them.

The men then started to break bowls and plates and beat up the waiters. Li then intervened and in return received a vicious beating.

The aftermath of the group's rage. Image: weibo

Security camera footage later revealed how the men continuously hit Li in the face and stomach. He later fell and died on the spot.

According to several eyewitnesses, the men had been drinking and even clashed with local authorities when they arrived on the scene to break up the fight.

An eyewitness told reporters: "They were intoxicated. When the police came to control them, they were still violent and even tore one of the officer's uniform."

Investigations on the four men and Li's death are currently underway.

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