Hans Rausing faces criminal charge

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LONDON, July 18 (UPI) -- Hans Rausing, one of the heirs to a Swedish food-packaging fortune, was formally charged Tuesday in London with failing to report his wife's death.

Rausing, 49, is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday on the charge of preventing his wife's decent burial, The Guardian reported. Eva Rausing's body was discovered July 9 at the couple's London home after her husband was picked up by police because of erratic driving.

Investigators have been unable to determine the cause of Eva Rausing's death and say she had been dead for days.

Eva Rausing's family said she had gone to California for drug treatment but had returned to London because she was worried about her husband. They said she hoped to bring him back to California with her.

Her father, Tom Kemeny, said in a statement that the Rausings were devoted to each other and to their four children.

"They bravely battled their demons and supported each other and Eva will be a devastating loss to our beloved 'son' Hans Kristian, whom we love unconditionally with all our hearts," the statement said.

Kemeny is a retired Pepsi Cola executive. Hans Kristian Rausing's family controls Tetra Pak, a packaging giant founded in Sweden.