Publication Date:
Tue, 2010-03-30 00:42
Rio Tinto said it would fire the four to distance itself from what it called “deplorable behavior” in a case that dates back to the middle of last year. It said Chinese prosecutors had unearthed “clear” proof of backhanders.
Internal investigation had shown that all wrongdoing was outside company systems, it added.
Canberra acknowledged there was convincing evidence of corruption, adding that ties with Beijing would not be hurt by the verdict in a trial which has been closely tied up with politics and diplomacy.
But Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said he still had “serious unanswered questions” about the most controversial part of the trial, covering the stealing of commercial secrets, which was held behind closed doors.
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