China concludes Hu probe

12 Jan 2010, 7:00 am   -   Source: AAP
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Chinese authorities have finished their investigations into the case of detained Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu but it is unclear whether he will face trial.

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The uncertainty continues for Stern Hu even though Chinese authorities have finished investigating the detained Rio Tinto executive.

Six months after he was first detained, the Shanghai-based head of Rio Tinto's iron ore operations in China has still not been told whether he will face court on suspicion of stealing commercial secrets and taking bribes.

Beijing was expected on Monday to announce whether Mr Hu, who was arrested along with three Rio Tinto colleagues in early July last year, would go to trial.

But that decision, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is still in the hands of Chinese prosecutors.

A DFAT spokeswoman on Monday said that Beijing had informed Australia's consulate-general in Shanghai that the investigation phase of the case had now concluded.

"The case is now in the hands of the Shanghai People's Procuratorate - the prosecutor - who will decide whether it should be brought to trial," the spokeswoman said.

"We are not in a position to say how long this phase of the case will take, and are not prepared to speculate about the outcome.”

"Details of the actual charges are not likely to be known until the prosecutors have made their decision on whether the case should proceed to trial."

Canberra-Beijing friction

The Hu case has heightened friction between Canberra and Beijing, though both governments have been at pains to point out the relationship is bigger than a single diplomatic issue.

The federal government has been urging a speedy resolution of the case since Mr Hu's arrest amid high-level iron ore price negotiations between the Anglo-Australian miner and Chinese steel mills.

Rio Tinto iron ore chief Sam Walsh said the latest development was the next stage in a continuing legal process.

"It would not be appropriate for the company to comment any further at this point in the case other than to reaffirm our hope that matters proceed in an expeditious and transparent manner," he said in a statement.

Trade Minister Simon Crean, one of a number of ministers to raise the Hu case during discussions with Beijing, said the government wanted the matter brought to a conclusion.

"We want this to be dealt with expeditiously and transparently so today's an important day," he said ahead of news that the matter was still in the hands of prosecutors.

Recent visit

Mr Hu has recently been visited by Australia's representative in Shanghai and is said to be in good health.

"In all of the report backs we've had from the consular visits, he is in good health, he's obviously anxious about the future, you can understand that," Mr Crean told Fairfax Radio Network.

"He's being looked after well and he has been getting regular access to his legal representatives."

Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce, who has a longstanding interest in issues involving China, believes Prime Minister Kevin Rudd needs to get personally involved.

"(But) the reality is he hasn't even bothered putting a call through to (Chinese President) Hu Jintao about Stern Hu's predicament," he told Sky News.
 

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