This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/8451418.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Prosecutors mull Rio 'spy' case Chinese prosecutors mull Rio case
(about 10 hours later)
China has told the Australian government that its inquiry into four Rio Tinto mining executives accused of spying is now with prosecutors. China has told the Australian government its inquiry into four Rio Tinto executives accused of industrial espionage is now with prosecutors.
A prosecutor in Shanghai will decide whether the case will now go to trial.A prosecutor in Shanghai will decide whether the case will now go to trial.
The four, including Stern Hu, who headed Rio's iron ore business in China, have been held on suspicion of industrial espionage since July. The four, including Stern Hu, who headed Rio Tinto's iron ore business in China, have been held since July.
The executives had been involved in iron ore negotiations with China. Rio Tinto has said it did nothing wrong. The four executives had been involved in iron ore negotiations with China. Rio Tinto has said that it did nothing wrong.
Trial decisionTrial decision
"Today they informed our Shanghai Consulate-General that the investigation phase has concluded," Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement. "Today they (the Chinese authorities) informed our Shanghai Consulate-General that the investigation phase has concluded," Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement.
It added: "The case is now in the hands of the Shanghai People's Procuratorate (prosecutor) who will decide whether it should be brought to trial."It added: "The case is now in the hands of the Shanghai People's Procuratorate (prosecutor) who will decide whether it should be brought to trial."
China's State Secrets Bureau website said Rio Tinto's executives had spied on Chinese steel mills for six years and helped to inflate iron ore prices.China's State Secrets Bureau website said Rio Tinto's executives had spied on Chinese steel mills for six years and helped to inflate iron ore prices.
The men are accused of stealing state secrets and have faced accusations of bribery. The men had been accused of stealing state secrets. That has been downgraded to charges of illegally obtaining commercial secrets and bribery. The maximum sentence is seven years in prison.
Scrapped dealScrapped deal
Their arrest has created a political and diplomatic problem for Australia's Mandarin-speaking Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who has made improving relations with Beijing a priority.Their arrest has created a political and diplomatic problem for Australia's Mandarin-speaking Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who has made improving relations with Beijing a priority.
China is Australia's biggest trade partner.China is Australia's biggest trade partner.
A month before the arrests, Rio scrapped a $19.5bn (£12.1bn) deal with China's state-owned Chinalco in favour of a tie-up with rival giant BHP Billiton, which angered some in Beijing.A month before the arrests, Rio scrapped a $19.5bn (£12.1bn) deal with China's state-owned Chinalco in favour of a tie-up with rival giant BHP Billiton, which angered some in Beijing.
Sam Walsh, Rio's chief executive in charge of iron ore, said: "It would not be appropriate for the company to comment any further at this point in the case other than to reaffirm our hope that matters proceed in an expeditious and transparent manner."Sam Walsh, Rio's chief executive in charge of iron ore, said: "It would not be appropriate for the company to comment any further at this point in the case other than to reaffirm our hope that matters proceed in an expeditious and transparent manner."