Rio Tinto 'still unaware' of China case evidence

[August 11, 2009]  SYDNEY (AP) -- Rio Tinto Ltd. said Tuesday it was still unaware of any evidence to justify China's detention of four employees on spying allegations, as the Australian government urged Beijing to speed up the case.

Rio, the world's third-largest mining company, issued a statement Tuesday welcoming news that detained Australian citizen Stern Hu had received a second visit by Australian consular officials since the four were detained more than five weeks earlier.

Sam Walsh, Rio Tinto's chief executive for iron ore, said in the statement that the company remained surprised and concerned about the detentions, and had not been informed of any charges against the employees.

"We are still not aware of any evidence that would support their detention," Walsh said. "Rio Tinto is committed to high standards in business integrity and takes its ethical responsibilities very seriously."

Rio has been keeping mostly quiet about the case in public. Tuesday's statement was the third public comment made by the company. In the previous statement on July 17, Rio said it believed allegations of bribery against the workers were "wholly without foundation."

Chinese-born Hu, the manager of Rio Tinto's Chinese iron ore business, and three Chinese co-workers were detained July 5 as protracted talks on iron ore prices were under way with Chinese steel mills.

They have not been charged, and the few details of the case that are known have come from state-owned Chinese media, including accusations that Hu paid bribes to Chinese officials that amounted to stealing state secrets.

The case has raised tensions between Beijing and Canberra, where the government is concerned that the case is moving too slowly and that Hu may not receive a fair trial.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said on Tuesday that Australian diplomats in China held a second meeting with Hu, and that the government was continuing to press for a quick resolution to the case.

"We continue to urge the Chinese authorities to deal with their investigation expeditiously," Smith told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.

Australian officials were also asking Chinese officials to allow Hu to have a lawyer, something Smith said that in China was usually only allowed after charges were formally laid.

[Associated Press; By ROHAN SULLIVAN]

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