Global InformationRio Tinto espionage case information
The Rio Tinto espionage case began with the arrest on 5 July 2009, of four staff in the Shanghai office of the Rio Tinto, in the People's Republic of China, who were subsequently accused of bribery and espionage. Two days later, an import executive of the Shougang Group and Laigang Group was also arrested.[1][2] The Rio Tinto employees, Australian Stern Hu and three Chinese colleagues, Wang Yong, Ge Minqiang, and Liu Caikui, went on trial in Shanghai on Monday, 22 March 2010.[3]
The government dropped the charges relating to the alleged theft of trade secrets before the trial, and the defendants admitted to having received bribes during the trial.[4]
Following the trial, Stern Hu was sentenced to 10 years jail.[5] Hu and other convicted executives have also had their employment terminated by Rio Tinto Ltd.[6] It is reported that the motive behind the terminations is in regards to a breach of conduct, with Rio Tinto accepting the evidence provided showing instances of bribery. Rio Tinto stated that the trial will not affect business ties, according to its chief executive.[7]
- ^ Govt: Proof against Rio spies sticks
- ^ 莱钢海运部门负责人"涉力拓间谍案"被调查 (in Chinese). 南方网-腾讯网. 15 July 2009. Archived from the original on 22 July 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
- ^ "Rio Tinto signs mining deal with China's Chinalco". BBC News. 19 March 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
- ^ "Chinese court sentences Hu to 10 years". Sydney Morning Herald. 29 March 2010.
- ^ AAP, March 29, 2010, Hu given 'tough sentence', says Smith, Yahoo!7 News
- ^ AAP, March 29, 2010, Rio Tinto fires Hu, other jailed execs Archived 2010-04-01 at the Wayback Machine, Yahoo!7 News
- ^ AAP, March 29, 2010, China bond won't be broken: Rio Tinto Archived 2010-04-01 at the Wayback Machine Yahoo!7 News