Hong Kong university professor charged with wife's murder after corpse found inside a suitcase in his office

Cheung Kie-chung claims spouse walked out following an argument

University of Hong Kong Professor, Cheung Kie-chung, center, attends a conference in Hong Kong (AP)

A professor from Hong Kong university has been charged with his wife’s murder after her decomposing body was found inside a suitcase in his office, it has been reported.

Cheung Kie-chung, a mechanical engineering associate professor, claimed that his 52-year-old wife had walked out after an argument and not returned on 17 August.

Despite Cheung's claim, there was no security camera footage showing his wife, who has not been named, leaving the dormitory where she lived with her husband and an adult daughter and son.

​She was believed to have been dead for several days when her body was found on 28 August dressed only in her underwear with an electric wire around her neck, suggesting strangulation, Singapore's Straits Times newspaper reported.

A post-mortem examination in underway to determine the exact cause of death.

CCTV footage did show Cheung leaving his house with a wooden box, the reports said, adding that the suitcase containing the body had been encased inside a sealed wooden box.

"I am sure that you are as saddened and shocked as I am," Hong Kong University Vice-Chancellor Xiang Zhang said in an email to staff and students, CNN reported.

"While the details are uncertain, what is clear is that a tragic event has occurred, and many students, staff and alumni will be affected. Our thoughts are with the affected ones at this very difficult time."

Investigations continue.

Agencies contributed to this report