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| Four Rio Tinto executives jailed | Four Rio Tinto executives jailed |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Four Rio Tinto executives have been found guilty of bribery and secrets theft by a Chinese court and have all been handed lengthy jail terms. | Four Rio Tinto executives have been found guilty of bribery and secrets theft by a Chinese court and have all been handed lengthy jail terms. |
| Australian Stern Hu was handed a 10 year sentence. Wang Yong was given 14 years, Liu Caikui seven years and Ge Minqiang eight years. | Australian Stern Hu was handed a 10 year sentence. Wang Yong was given 14 years, Liu Caikui seven years and Ge Minqiang eight years. |
| The four colleagues were on trial last week in Shanghai. | The four colleagues were on trial last week in Shanghai. |
| The trial has heightened concerns among the foreign business community in China. | The trial has heightened concerns among the foreign business community in China. |
| Australian diplomats have expressed concern about the lack of transparency in China's conduct of the trial. | Australian diplomats have expressed concern about the lack of transparency in China's conduct of the trial. |
| AT THE SCENE By Damian Grammaticus, BBC News, Shanghai Journalists were allowed to watch on a video link as the verdicts in this highly-anticipated trial were delivered. | AT THE SCENE By Damian Grammaticus, BBC News, Shanghai Journalists were allowed to watch on a video link as the verdicts in this highly-anticipated trial were delivered. |
| We had just a glimpse of the four Rio Tinto executives as they filed in and sat down in silence. | We had just a glimpse of the four Rio Tinto executives as they filed in and sat down in silence. |
| The judge reeled off lists of sums he said the four men had received in bribes. He said they had seriously damaged the competitive interests of Chinese steel enterprises, which led China to suspend major price negotiations last year. | The judge reeled off lists of sums he said the four men had received in bribes. He said they had seriously damaged the competitive interests of Chinese steel enterprises, which led China to suspend major price negotiations last year. |
| They and other foreign observers were barred from parts of the trial dealing with the commercial espionage charges. | They and other foreign observers were barred from parts of the trial dealing with the commercial espionage charges. |
| 'Wrist slap' expected | 'Wrist slap' expected |
| Stern Hu was Rio Tinto's lead negotiator in 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 talks with Chinese steel mills to try to settle a price for China to buy iron ore from Australian mining companies. |
| During the trial, the defendants admitted taking bribes, but disputed the amounts of money involved, their lawyers said. | During the trial, the defendants admitted taking bribes, but disputed the amounts of money involved, their lawyers said. |
| According to reports, Mr Hu was charged with accepting bribes of $900,000 ($600,000). | According to reports, Mr Hu was charged with accepting bribes of $900,000 ($600,000). |
| Admissions of guilt had led some observers to believe the court may be lenient towards the executives. | Admissions of guilt had led some observers to believe the court may be lenient towards the executives. |
| The length of the sentences, therefore, came as something of a surprise. | The length of the sentences, therefore, came as something of a surprise. |
| RIO TINTOLast updated: 29 Mar 2010, 09:00 UK pricechange%3942.00p+79.00+2.05 More data on this share price | |
| "A slap on the wrist might have been expected, with both sides trying to put this behind them as soon as possible, but this is far longer [sentencing] than we thought," said Paul Bartholomew at Steel Business Briefing. | "A slap on the wrist might have been expected, with both sides trying to put this behind them as soon as possible, but this is far longer [sentencing] than we thought," said Paul Bartholomew at Steel Business Briefing. |
| The four executives have been held in detention since their arrest in July last year. | The four executives have been held in detention since their arrest in July last year. |
| A month before the arrests, Rio Tinto scrapped a proposed investment of $19.5bn from China's state-owned Chinalco in favour of tie-up with BHP Billiton, which angered some in Beijing. | A month before the arrests, Rio Tinto scrapped a proposed investment of $19.5bn from China's state-owned Chinalco in favour of tie-up with BHP Billiton, which angered some in Beijing. |
| But ties have since improved - earlier this month, Rio Tinto signed a deal with Chinalco to develop a massive iron ore mine in Guinea. | But ties have since improved - earlier this month, Rio Tinto signed a deal with Chinalco to develop a massive iron ore mine in Guinea. |