Stern Hu Jailed For 10 Years
Stern Hu Jailed For 10 Years – AUSTRALIAN Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu has been sentenced to 10 years jail by a Chinese court after being found guilty of accepting bribes and stealing trade secrets.
The case against Hu has strained relations between Australia and China, with the three-day hearing taking place last week in a closed court, and Australian consular officials barred from hearing some evidence.
Hu, the head of the Anglo-Australian miner’s Shanghai office, and the three Chinese men – Wang Yong, Liu Caikui and Ge Minqiang – had pleaded guilty to taking $US13 million ($14.33 million), and one admitted to commercial espionage.
The three Chinese men were sentenced to jail terms ranging from seven to 14 years jail.
The men have been in custody for more than eight months.
Australian diplomats were excluded from the hearings on the commercial secrets allegations.
Today, foreign reporters were allowed to watch the verdict hearing on closed-circuit television, from a separate room.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith today spoke out against the trial, but indicated there was not much the Government could do to help Hu.
“On any measure, this a tough sentence,” Mr Smith said.
“The bribery charge to me seems to be a very harsh sentence.”
The part of the trial which dealt with stealing commercial secrets was held behind closed doors.
Tags: Australian Diplomats, Bribery, Bribes, Chinese Court, Chinese Men, Closed Circuit Television, Closed Doors, Commercial Espionage, Commercial Secrets, Consular Officials, Eight Months, Harsh Sentence, Jail Terms, Million And One, Mr Smith, rio tinto, Shanghai Office, Stephen Smith, Wang Yong, Yong Liu
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