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| China to try UK private investigator working for GSK 'in a closed trial' | China to try UK private investigator working for GSK 'in a closed trial' |
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| China plans to try a British private investigator and his American wife, who both disappeared into the Chinese judicial system a year ago, in a closed trial next month, a family friend has told the Guardian. | |
| The trial of Peter Humphrey and his wife, the Chinese-born American Yu Yingzeng, will be closed to family members and consular officials "on the grounds of privacy," according to the friend, who requested anonymity. | The trial of Peter Humphrey and his wife, the Chinese-born American Yu Yingzeng, will be closed to family members and consular officials "on the grounds of privacy," according to the friend, who requested anonymity. |
| The couple were detained last summer soon after Chinese authorities accused the British drug firm GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) – one of Humphrey's clients – of bribing a vast network of doctors and hospital administrators to sell its products. | The couple were detained last summer soon after Chinese authorities accused the British drug firm GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) – one of Humphrey's clients – of bribing a vast network of doctors and hospital administrators to sell its products. |
| "I am very worried that family and consular officials are not allowed to attend my parents' trial," the couple's son Harvey Humphrey said in a statement after a consular visit on Wednesday. "This does not involve state secrets. This does not involve national security. It is about two private individuals, my parents. | "I am very worried that family and consular officials are not allowed to attend my parents' trial," the couple's son Harvey Humphrey said in a statement after a consular visit on Wednesday. "This does not involve state secrets. This does not involve national security. It is about two private individuals, my parents. |
| "I am surprised at this decision since China wants to promote openness and the rule of law, and I hope that they will relent and let me in. I haven't seen them for a year. I am shocked and upset. I miss my parents, who are not in good health." | "I am surprised at this decision since China wants to promote openness and the rule of law, and I hope that they will relent and let me in. I haven't seen them for a year. I am shocked and upset. I miss my parents, who are not in good health." |
| The trial date, originally planned for 29 July, has been rescheduled to 7 August, Humphrey said. | The trial date, originally planned for 29 July, has been rescheduled to 7 August, Humphrey said. |
| Peter Humphrey, a former Reuters reporter, had operated the Shanghai-based risk consultancy ChinaWhys with his wife since 2003. They were detained last July on suspicion of operating an illicit business and illegally purchasing private information on Chinese citizens. | Peter Humphrey, a former Reuters reporter, had operated the Shanghai-based risk consultancy ChinaWhys with his wife since 2003. They were detained last July on suspicion of operating an illicit business and illegally purchasing private information on Chinese citizens. |
| The charge of operating an illicit business has been dropped, according to the friend. | The charge of operating an illicit business has been dropped, according to the friend. |
| In September, the couple were paraded on Chinese state television wearing handcuffs and orange prison vests. Humphrey "confessed" to the crime and apologised to the Chinese government. While televised confessions are common for Chinese businesspeople and officials, they are vanishingly rare for foreigners. | In September, the couple were paraded on Chinese state television wearing handcuffs and orange prison vests. Humphrey "confessed" to the crime and apologised to the Chinese government. While televised confessions are common for Chinese businesspeople and officials, they are vanishingly rare for foreigners. |
| Revelations surfaced earlier this week that in March 2013, 13 GSK executives – including its CEO, Andrew Witty – received a video of the company's then-China boss Mark Reilly having sex with his girlfriend in his Shanghai apartment. GSK considered the video a security breach, and Reilly hired Humphrey's firm to trace its origin. | Revelations surfaced earlier this week that in March 2013, 13 GSK executives – including its CEO, Andrew Witty – received a video of the company's then-China boss Mark Reilly having sex with his girlfriend in his Shanghai apartment. GSK considered the video a security breach, and Reilly hired Humphrey's firm to trace its origin. |
| Reilly is accused by Chinese authorities of running "a massive bribery network" and faces a possible jail sentence. GSK did not tell Humphrey about the bribery allegations until two months later, according to the Sunday Times. | Reilly is accused by Chinese authorities of running "a massive bribery network" and faces a possible jail sentence. GSK did not tell Humphrey about the bribery allegations until two months later, according to the Sunday Times. |
| Reilly left China last June after Chinese authorities raided GSK offices in Shanghai, but returned in October to aid the investigation. He has been barred from leaving China, and his whereabouts are unknown. | Reilly left China last June after Chinese authorities raided GSK offices in Shanghai, but returned in October to aid the investigation. He has been barred from leaving China, and his whereabouts are unknown. |
| GSK said in a statement this week that the investigation by the Chinese authorities of the bribery allegations is ongoing and that it was cooperating fully with it. | GSK said in a statement this week that the investigation by the Chinese authorities of the bribery allegations is ongoing and that it was cooperating fully with it. |