Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
China to begin trial of 4 Rio Tinto employees
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
China to begin trial of 4 Rio Tinto employees
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer -
Sunday, March 21
Send
IM Story
Print
SHANGHAI – An Australian executive and three other employees of mining giant Rio Tinto face charges of stealing secrets and offering bribes in a Shanghai trial beginning Monday that is viewed as a barometer of China's handling of foreign business.
China has warned against politicizing the case, which has been an irritant in relations with Australia. Australia has protested the plan to close court sessions involving the commercial secrets charges.
The trial comes at a time of friction with the U.S. over China's currency policies and doubts among some in the foreign business community over Beijing's commitment to an open and fair business environment.
Australian citizen Stern Hu and three Chinese nationals were arrested nine months ago at a time when Rio Tinto was acting as lead negotiator for global iron ore suppliers in price talks with Chinese steel mills. Hu was Rio Tinto's senior executive in China in charge of iron ore.
Few details of the allegations against the suspects have been made public, and the four Rio Tinto employees have not been allowed any public comment since their arrest. Lawyers contacted over the weekend, ahead of Monday's trial, refused comment.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued a statement saying it was disappointed with the Chinese court's decision not to allow its consular officials to attend sessions having to do with commercial secrets.
"The Government's disappointment with the decision has been registered with Chinese officials in Beijing and Canberra. The Australian Government does not propose to make further representations on this matter," it said in a statement issued over the weekend.
It said Hu's lawyer, Duan Qihua, would be present throughout the trial. Australian consular officials will attend hearings involving the bribery charges.
Rio Tinto has repeatedly said it hopes the case will be handled quickly and transparently. In the meantime, it is moving ahead with its business in China, the world's biggest steel maker and thus its biggest consumer of iron ore.
The company recently appointed a new top executive for China and on Friday it announced an agreement with China's state-run aluminum giant Chinalco to develop an iron ore reserve in the West African country of Guinea.
Rio Tinto CEO Tom Albanese is due to attend a forum on China's role in the world economy in Beijing on Monday.
Lawmakers in Australia have urged their government to push more forcefully for an open trial.
"The world will be watching how this particular case is conducted," Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said after the trial date was announced.
Almost all criminal cases that go to trial in China end in conviction. The maximum penalty for commercial espionage is seven years in prison if the case is found to have caused extreme damage. The maximum penalty for taking large bribes is five years.
China treats a wide range of commercial information as state secrets. Chinese reports that the Rio employees were originally suspected of obtaining state secrets suggest they may have been caught up in an effort to control information exchanged during the iron ore talks.
The trial begins as China is again bogged down in iron ore price negotiations with foreign miners.
China has sought to convince Rio Tinto and other suppliers to give its mills lower prices than those paid by Japan and South Korea. Miners reportedly are seeking price hikes of 90 percent or more this year.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Venezuela punishes 80 firms for big power use Reuters - 32 minutes ago
Q&A-Dubai World to make debt offer to banks Reuters - 44 minutes ago
Gulfsands bid approach by Indian Oil Corp -source Reuters - 53 minutes ago
Bahrain inflation slowed to 1.7 pct y/y in February Reuters - 1 hour 23 minutes ago
US-BUSINESS Summary Reuters - 1 hour 29 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Hundreds evacuated after Iceland volcano erupts
UN chief slams Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip
Fish and chips celebrates 150 years as a British classic
GM Daewoo recalls 58,000 vehicles in S.Korea: government
British Airways strike bites but passengers fly
More Top Stories »
Related Full Coverage
China Economychina economy
All Full Coverage »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Fish and chips celebrates 150 years as a British classic
'Red Shirts' take to streets to win over Thai capital
British Airways strike bites but passengers fly
Hollywood stars help prevent suicide after Twitter alert
British boy receives pioneering stem cell surgery
More Most Viewed »
Chile quake moved Earth's axis, shortened days: scientist
Experts confirm asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs
'Britain's Fritzl' raped daughters for over 25yrs
Researchers back cancer-fighting properties of papaya
Common weed-killer chemically castrates frogs: study
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Sunday, 21 March 2010 Afghanistan says Taliban arrests had 'negative impact'
British Airways strike grounds flights but passengers fly
Israeli troops kill Palestinian in West Bank: medics
Russian 'Day of Anger' rallies tests Putin's rule
Magnitude-5.6 quake near Guantanamo, Cuba
|
Allawi leads Iraq PM in vote count: results
UN chief backs Palestinian state in visit to West Bank
Iran president suggests referendum on subsidy cuts
|
ACORN On Verge Of Bankruptcy; 50% Of State Chapters Disband
Thai political deadlock after red street parade
Taliban adjust, wage bomb attacks in Afghan town
Huge sandstorm covers Beijing, turns sky orange
Underdog Japan hoping to suprise US in hockey final
Strong quake hits off Papua New Guinea: geologists
Sandstorms blanket Beijing in yellow dust
Sharks on the menu at wildlife trade meet
One dead, six hurt in Philippines clashes: security forces
Myanmar state paper blasts election law critics
Thai opposition leaders demand talks with PM
Chinese media hits out at Google, alleges intelligence links
Music biz insiders say Sony-Jackson deal makes sense
|
Ellen, Web site give gay teen $30,000 in prom flap
|
Couch potatoes: New York plants go to the movies
Afghan drug cartels squeeze poppy farmers
Fish and chips celebrates 150 years as a British classic
Thai protest talks scheduled; resolution unlikely
|
"Red Steel 2" videogame an homage to spaghetti westerns
U.N.'s Ban in West Bank pushes for peace talks
UN chief backs Palestinian state on Mideast mission
British polls point to hung parliament
Madagascar connected to EASSy fiber optic cable
Colombian journalist shot and killed
|
Moscow fire chief killed in blaze
China to respond if hit by U.S. trade sanctions: MOFCOM
|
Huge pro-Berlusconi rally in Rome
GM Daewoo recalls 58,000 vehicles in S.Korea: government
Germany okay with bilateral EU aid to Greece: minister
Suspected explosive found on plane in India: police
|
Sarkozy faces heavy defeat in French regional poll
|
Tadic absent as Balkan leaders meet on EU integration
No evidence of mine collapse in Sierra Leone town
|
Australia's Rudd loses support in state elections
|
Midair Plane Collision Leaves Three Dead
Anti-war protesters take to streets, defy US indifference
US House to vote on Obama's historic health plan
Top climate officials urge progress at Mexico summit
Fargo calm, confident as Red River completes rise
Researchers: Acne Drug Found To Be Effective In HIV Treatment
Fox Denies "Glee" Stage Adaptation
Thousands rally to pull troops from 2 war zones
Rosie O'Donnell Signs Talk Show Deal For 2011
U.S. Democrats say they have votes to pass healthcare
"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" To Include Paris Hilton's Aunts
GM Daewoo to recall 58,000 vehicles in S.Korea: government
China may report trade deficit in March: minister
Bangladesh too cheap for comfort for some brands
S.Korea sees March trade surplus bigger than Feb
China says trade deficit likely in March
Japan planning 14 nuclear plants: report
GM S.Korea unit recalls 60,000 Cruze, Captiva models
US currency battle with China underscores global concerns
Thousands bid farewell to former Nepal PM Koirala
S.Korea Feb business start/failure rate at 7-mo high
Japan local vote plan for foreigners triggers backlash
Two Thai blasts after huge anti-govt parade: police
Philippines hunts Indonesian training militants
Nearly 100 kgs ivory seized in Vietnam: report
Thai protest talks scheduled; resolution unlikely
Pakistan kidnappers 'threatened to chop up UK boy'
Watermelon Jam Causes New Zealand Motorway To Close
Swarm Of Bees Attack 3, Critically Injures 2 Women
Woman Sees Virgin Mary At Door
Phone Call To Mom Brings Drug Trafficking Charge For Inmate
Drunk Man Fined For Exposing Himself To Female Officer
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
Australia's Rudd loses support in state elections
Indonesians protest Israel settlements
Sarkozy facing rebuke as France votes
Netanyahu stands firm on Jerusalem before U.S. visit
|
China state media accuses Google of political agenda
Darfur donor meeting eyeing $2 billion opens in Cairo
Sarkozy faces heavy defeat in French regional poll
|
Israeli troops kill two Palestinians in West Bank
No Israeli concessions on Jerusalem: Netanyahu
U.N.'s Ban in Gaza, calls on Israel to end closures
|
UN chief slams Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip
U.S. actions contrary to desire for better ties: Iran
|
Second Palestinian youth dies after shot in West Bank
Medical Examiner Confirms Two More Suspected Suicides At Cornell University
UN chief urges Israel to lift Gaza blockade
Volcano erupts in Iceland, hundreds flee
|
Iraq PM Maliki calls for vote recount: statement
Virginia Executes Convicted Murderer By Electric Chair
Lawyer For Teacher Who Let Cats Starve To Death Says It Wasn't Intended
Afghans celebrate new year with hopes for peace
Vatican must take abuse more seriously: Swiss abbot
|
UN chief crosses into Gaza for talks
Fifteen States Sue EPA Over Greenhouse Gas Decision
UK parties battle over economy as election nears
|
NJ Police Aided By Social Media Arrest Teen In Wal-Mart Bias Case
Iraq's Maliki asks for recount, warns of violence
|
Afghan VP voices hope for peace as bombs kill 12
Explosives found aboard India plane
China vows to hit back if targeted by U.S. on yuan
Former Interior Secretary Udall dies at age 90
Kenyan runners sweep Taipei marathon
Taiwan's president to visit 6 Pacific nations
China warns US against yuan sanctions
China state media accuses Google of political agenda
|
Explosions rock Afghan New Year, kill 2 civilians
Activist charged over sat phone can leave India
Chinese media say Google is politicizing dispute
GM's SKorean unit recalling nearly 60,000 vehicles
China to begin trial of 4 Rio Tinto employees
India faces more rate hikes: analysts
Tang premieres new film after reported China ban
Ang Lee protege Tang returns to red carpet
US gun rights advocates pack heat with pride
Paris retrospective for fashion genius Saint Laurent
Lebanon's liquid treasure is just trickling away
Haiti's cultural heritage faces quake extinction
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights