James Beaton and Jennifer Barton of TRACE’s partner firm in Australia, Minter Ellison, provide us with a summary of the recent indictments against Rio Tinto employees in China:
“Rio Tinto announced last week that Chinese authorities have referred four Rio Tinto executives for trial on charges of receiving bribes and stealing commercial secrets. Chinese prosecutors have determined that there is sufficient evidence to proceed with the case, which will go to trial in the Shanghai No. 1 People’s Court. Rio Tinto has called for the trial to be held quickly and openly, however a trial date has not yet been set.
The four men remain in custody after having been arrested on 5 July 2009. The charged men include Australian passport holder, Stern Hu. The case has strained relations between China and Australia due to Australia’s position as a major supplier of iron ore to China’s steel mills.”
