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Australian Matthew Ng jailed in China for embezzlement Australian Matthew Ng jailed in China for embezzlement
(about 2 hours later)
An Australian businessman has been sentenced to 13 years in jail for embezzlement in China.An Australian businessman has been sentenced to 13 years in jail for embezzlement in China.
Matthew Ng, a Chinese-born Australian citizen, was detained by police in the city of Guangzhou in November 2010.Matthew Ng, a Chinese-born Australian citizen, was detained by police in the city of Guangzhou in November 2010.
Reports suggest his trial centred on a commercial dispute between his travel company Et-China and Lingnan Group, a corporation owned by the Guangzhou municipal government. His trial centred on a commercial dispute between his travel company Et-China and Lingnan Group, a corporation owned by the Guangzhou municipal government.
Local media suggest that two executives from another firm were also jailed. The Australian government has raised concerns with Beijing over the case.
According to Yangcheng Evening News, Ng was convicted of embezzlement, bribery and two other offences by the Intermediate People's Court of Guangzhou. "We have made clear to Chinese authorities our strong interest in Mr Ng's case," said the department of foreign affairs in a statement.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed the news, saying he is expected to appeal. The department said Prime Minister Julia Gillard had talked to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao about Ng's case, and other officials had spoken to the Guangdong government.
But Australian officials said they could not detail their concerns because Ng was expected to appeal against the sentence.
Ng was convicted of four offences related to bribery and corruption at the Intermediate People's Court of Guangzhou.
'Sacrificial object'
His company took a majority holding in a firm called GZL, a subsidiary of the Lingnan Group, during 2007 and 2008.
But Lingnan later asked Ng to sell the shares back at the original price, Australian media reports say.
Ng refused, and Australian commentators say he was punished for refusing to bow to the state-run firm.
Ng reportedly told the court at his sentencing that he was a "sacrificial object" in a bigger game.
But Chinese prosecutors accused him of illegally transferring money between Et-China and GZL, and bribing GZL officials.
Nikki Chow, Ng's wife, told Australian media she was devastated by the sentence.Nikki Chow, Ng's wife, told Australian media she was devastated by the sentence.
"Thirteen years for Matthew, I don't think he can take it," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Ms Chow as saying."Thirteen years for Matthew, I don't think he can take it," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Ms Chow as saying.
"He was shocked, very shocked, nobody expected the verdict would be today.""He was shocked, very shocked, nobody expected the verdict would be today."
The court also jailed GZL boss Zheng Hong for 16 years for taking bribes, and GZL's former chief financial officer Kitty Yang Xiaoping for 3.5 years for charges including embezzlement.