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Thursday, 11 March 2010
Rio ‘very concerned’ as executives face trial
Mining giant Rio Tinto voiced concern Thursday after China said it would try four employees on industrial espionage and bribery charges, reviving jitters over doing business with Beijing.
SYDNEY (AFP) - – Mining giant Rio Tinto voiced concern Thursday after China said it would try four employees on industrial espionage and bribery charges, reviving jitters over doing business with Beijing.
The Anglo-Australian company urged China to hold a “transparent and expeditious” trial after the four, including Australian executive Stern Hu, were charged with taking bribes and stealing state secrets.
“We are very concerned about the nature of these charges, however, as this is part of an ongoing legal process, it is inappropriate to comment any further,” iron ore division chief Sam Walsh said in a brief statement.
Australian officials also called for a quick and open trial, which was announced some seven months after the workers were arrested in Shanghai last July. No trial date was announced, but it could be held as early as this month.
“We continue to emphasise to the Chinese authorities the need for the case to be handled transparently and expeditiously,” said a spokesman for Foreign Minister Stephen Smith.
However, a spokeswoman for Shanghai’s Number One Intermediate People’s Court told AFP: “The case involves infringing commercial secrets, so the trial is unlikely to be open to the public.
“If it is decided to be a closed-door trial, no media will be allowed.” Related article: Four Rio Tinto employees to face trial in China
Hu’s detention in Shanghai came during fractious, and ultimately unresolved, iron ore contract talks and just weeks after Rio Tinto walked away from a major cash injection from a state-run Chinese firm. Related article: Rio Tinto profits jump 33 percent
Analysts said business leaders would keep a close eye on the proceedings to gauge the pitfalls of engaging with China, the world’s top exporter whose breakneck growth defied the global slowdown.
“I think the business community will try to talk as if the Stern Hu situation is a unique one, but I think they will realise that it’s more than that,” said John Lee, fellow of the Centre for Independent Studies think-tank.
“It’s a commentary on the general risk of doing business with China.”
The four are accused of using their “positions to obtain benefits for others and on many occasions solicited or accepted bribes,” according to China’s state Xinhua news agency.
Xinhua said the employees of the mining giant had also “on many occasions obtained the trade secrets of Chinese steel companies, leading to serious consequences for the relevant steel companies”.
Lee, who has personally investigated the case, said Hu had little chance of being acquitted and expected a sentence of five to seven years.
“The mere possession of the information that Stern Hu had is illegal. I think there’s no prospect of finding him innocent,” he said.
The case briefly snarled diplomatic ties between Beijing and Canberra, which have become major trading partners as China seeks commodities and energy to feed its rapid industrialisation.
“We continue to provide Stern Hu and his family with consular assistance,” said Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
“I don’t want to speculate on the timing of the trial of Mr. Hu and I certainly don’t want to speculate on any matters which might occur during the trial.”
A lawyer for one of the accused told AFP the trial was likely to be held in February or March. Wang Yong, Ge Minqiang, and Liu Caikui are the three Chinese nationals involved.
Rio Tinto has said it is not aware of any wrongdoing by its employees.
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Rio ‘very concerned’ as executives face trial
AFP
11 February 2010
SYDNEY (AFP) - – Mining giant Rio Tinto voiced concern Thursday after China said it would try four employees on industrial espionage and bribery charges, reviving jitters over doing business with Beijing.
The Anglo-Australian company urged China to hold a “transparent and expeditious” trial after the four, including Australian executive Stern Hu, were charged with taking bribes and stealing state secrets.
“We are very concerned about the nature of these charges, however, as this is part of an ongoing legal process, it is inappropriate to comment any further,” iron ore division chief Sam Walsh said in a brief statement.
Australian officials also called for a quick and open trial, which was announced some seven months after the workers were arrested in Shanghai last July. No trial date was announced, but it could be held as early as this month.
“We continue to emphasise to the Chinese authorities the need for the case to be handled transparently and expeditiously,” said a spokesman for Foreign Minister Stephen Smith.
However, a spokeswoman for Shanghai’s Number One Intermediate People’s Court told AFP: “The case involves infringing commercial secrets, so the trial is unlikely to be open to the public.
“If it is decided to be a closed-door trial, no media will be allowed.” Related article: Four Rio Tinto employees to face trial in China
Hu’s detention in Shanghai came during fractious, and ultimately unresolved, iron ore contract talks and just weeks after Rio Tinto walked away from a major cash injection from a state-run Chinese firm. Related article: Rio Tinto profits jump 33 percent
Analysts said business leaders would keep a close eye on the proceedings to gauge the pitfalls of engaging with China, the world’s top exporter whose breakneck growth defied the global slowdown.
“I think the business community will try to talk as if the Stern Hu situation is a unique one, but I think they will realise that it’s more than that,” said John Lee, fellow of the Centre for Independent Studies think-tank.
“It’s a commentary on the general risk of doing business with China.”
The four are accused of using their “positions to obtain benefits for others and on many occasions solicited or accepted bribes,” according to China’s state Xinhua news agency.
Xinhua said the employees of the mining giant had also “on many occasions obtained the trade secrets of Chinese steel companies, leading to serious consequences for the relevant steel companies”.
Lee, who has personally investigated the case, said Hu had little chance of being acquitted and expected a sentence of five to seven years.
“The mere possession of the information that Stern Hu had is illegal. I think there’s no prospect of finding him innocent,” he said.
The case briefly snarled diplomatic ties between Beijing and Canberra, which have become major trading partners as China seeks commodities and energy to feed its rapid industrialisation.
“We continue to provide Stern Hu and his family with consular assistance,” said Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
“I don’t want to speculate on the timing of the trial of Mr. Hu and I certainly don’t want to speculate on any matters which might occur during the trial.”
A lawyer for one of the accused told AFP the trial was likely to be held in February or March. Wang Yong, Ge Minqiang, and Liu Caikui are the three Chinese nationals involved.
Rio Tinto has said it is not aware of any wrongdoing by its employees.
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