Stern Hu shuns Rio Tinto lawyers
Australia Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu has taken legal advice and will not use Rio Tinto’s lawyers for his defence, instead choosing Shanghai lawyer Duan Qihan, founder of China’s first private law firm and a lawyer with strong government connections.
Hu, charged with commercial bribery and trade secrets infringement last week after being arrested on July 5, will contest the charge with three Chinese Rio Tinto employees. While the four have individual lawyers, their case will be tried collectively.
The Public Security Bureau have not yet granted the lawyers permission to see their clients at the Shanghai Detention Centre where they are being held. Rio Tinto have not had direct access to their employees since their arrest.
Lawyer Tao Wuping, representing Rio employee Liu Caikui, seemed unconcerned about the anxiety the case has raised among multinational companies in China.
“It’s just normal charge of economic crimes, completely different than the original charges about stealing state secrets,” he said.
Got something to say? Join the export forum here at DynamicExport.com.au.
