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Rio Tinto trial opens in Shanghai | Rio Tinto trial opens in Shanghai |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Four employees of international mining group Rio Tinto have gone on trial in the Chinese city of Shanghai, charged with bribery and commercial espionage. | Four employees of international mining group Rio Tinto have gone on trial in the Chinese city of Shanghai, charged with bribery and commercial espionage. |
Australian Stern Hu and his three Chinese colleagues have been held in detention since last summer. | Australian Stern Hu and his three Chinese colleagues have been held in detention since last summer. |
The Australian government has expressed its concern that its consular officials will be prevented from witnessing some of the court proceedings. | The Australian government has expressed its concern that its consular officials will be prevented from witnessing some of the court proceedings. |
The case has put an important economic relationship under strain. | The case has put an important economic relationship under strain. |
Stern Hu was Rio Tinto's lead negotiator in the talks with Chinese steel mills to try to settle a price for China to buy iron ore from Australian mining companies. | Stern Hu was Rio Tinto's lead negotiator in the talks with Chinese steel mills to try to settle a price for China to buy iron ore from Australian mining companies. |
He and three of his Chinese colleagues on the iron ore sales team were taken from their homes on 5 July last year. They've been held in detention, and have not seen their families ever since. | He and three of his Chinese colleagues on the iron ore sales team were taken from their homes on 5 July last year. They've been held in detention, and have not seen their families ever since. |
Although Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has said that the world will be watching, the Chinese authorities have obscured the view Nick BryantBBC Sydney correspondent class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/nickbryant/2010/03/rio_tinto_trial_tests_australi.html">Read Nick's thoughts in full | |
They are charged with commercial espionage, punishable by up to seven years in prison and taking bribes, a charge that also carries a lengthy jail term. | They are charged with commercial espionage, punishable by up to seven years in prison and taking bribes, a charge that also carries a lengthy jail term. |
China relies heavily on mining giants like Rio Tinto, to feed its huge appetite for raw materials to power its economy. | China relies heavily on mining giants like Rio Tinto, to feed its huge appetite for raw materials to power its economy. |
The case is being watched closely by companies around the world for clues as to what dangers their own employees might face when they are working in China. | The case is being watched closely by companies around the world for clues as to what dangers their own employees might face when they are working in China. |
Australia's raised concerns over whether the men will get a fair trial hear or not. | Australia's raised concerns over whether the men will get a fair trial hear or not. |
Diplomats will be barred from some parts of the hearing that will take place behind closed doors. | Diplomats will be barred from some parts of the hearing that will take place behind closed doors. |
But China has rejected criticism of the arrangements, warning its critics not to attempt to politicise the court proceedings. | But China has rejected criticism of the arrangements, warning its critics not to attempt to politicise the court proceedings. |