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Rio Tinto trial proceedings come to an end

March 24, 2010

Australia said the world was waiting for the verdict. Four Rio Tinto employees admitted to accepting bribes at the trial in Shanghai. One also pleaded guilty to commercial espionage.

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The Shanghai No. 1 People's Intermediate Court where the Rio Tinto trial took place
The Shanghai No. 1 People's Intermediate Court where the Rio Tinto trial took placeImage: AP

The controversial Rio Tinto trial ended in Shanghai on Wednesday after just three days of hearings. A court spokesperson refused to state when a verdict would be issued on Wednesday. However, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said "the eyes of the world are focused on the way this trial is conducted and what happens as a result of it."

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith meanwhile criticized China for not allowing diplomats to attend the hearings on commercial espionage. He also said he did not expect that a verdict would come for days.

The four accused men were arrested last July when the Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto was acting as lead negotiator for global iron ore suppliers in price talks with Chinese steel mills. They have all pleaded guilty to taking money but the amounts remain unclear.

A crane drops iron ore imported from Australia at a port in Rizhao, in east China's Shandong province
A crane drops iron ore imported from Australia at a port in Rizhao, in east China's Shandong provinceImage: AP

Concern about fairness of trial

Foreign journalists were not allowed to attend the trial, which sparked concerns over its fairness.

Tom Connor, Australia's Consul-General in Shanghai, left, was not allowed to attend all parts of the trial
Tom Connor, Australia's Consul-General in Shanghai, left, was not allowed to attend all parts of the trialImage: AP

China insisted that the trial should not be politicized and should be seen as "just an individual commercial case".

Impact on foreign investment

The case is being seen as a test of China's legal treatment of foreign businesses operating in the country.

Rio Tinto chief executive, Tom Albanese, said earlier this week that although the case was of great concern, he would "respectfully" await the outcome of the trial. He also insisted that the company remained committed to strengthening its relationship with China

Rio Tinto's office in Beijing
Rio Tinto's office in BeijingImage: AP

If found guilty, the four men could each face a prison sentence of up to seven years for stealing commercial secrets and of up to five years each for accepting bribes.

du/AFP/AP/dpa
Editor: Anne Thomas

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Disha Uppal asks Hui Feng from the University of Queensland, Australia for his opinion on the trial

englisch: AC 2203 China Rio - Produziert: 22.03.2010 - 14:19:11 von Uppal, Disha
March 22, 201003:32 min
An iron ore mine in western Australia

Rio Tinto controversy escalates

Rio Tinto controversy escalates

China needs steel for its booming economy and steel needs iron ore. Every year, the world’s three mining giants negotiate the price of iron ore with China’s steel producers. This year, however, Chinese negotiators wanted greater price cuts and the negotiations failed. Since then, four executives from Anglo-Australian giant Rio Tinto have been arrested and the Chinese media claim they divulged state secrets. One of them is an Australian national. (15.07.2009)
July 15, 2009