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The case against Humphrey and his wife Yu
Yingzeng has become a key piece in a long-running investigation
into GSK, whose China executives have been charged with
orchestrating a widespread network of bribery to promote sales.
The case against the couple, who have been accused of illegally
obtaining private information, has been formally lodged with the
Shanghai Number One Intermediate People's Court for trial, the
Xinhua report said.
Two family friends with knowledge of the matter told Reuters
this month that the couple's trial is set for Aug. 7 and will be
closed to the public. The secrecy surrounding the trial has
raised concern from British and U.S. officials. China's foreign
ministry said last week that the trial will be handled in
accordance with the law.
ChinaWhys, the risk consultancy run by the couple, was employed
by GSK in April 2013 to investigate an ex-employee suspected of
sending anonymous emails, including the circulation of an
intimate video of former GSK China head Mark Reilly with his
girlfriend, as well as emails containing allegations of
widespread bribery at the British drugmaker.
In a eight minute news report aired on Monday by state run China
Central Television (CCTV), Humphrey said that he and his wife
"deeply regret" breaking any Chinese law. He added ChinaWhys
would not have worked with GSK if the drugmaker had informed him
about the full details of the whistleblower emails.
"It was certainly not our intention to violate Chinese law,"
Humphrey, wearing an orange vest over his clothes, said in the
interview, which the state broadcaster said was conducted a few
days ago in a Shanghai police station.
Humphrey's apology reiterated a similar statement he made to
CCTV in August last year after the couple were arrested.
The Xinhua report said that Humphrey and Yu had paid people in
Beijing and Shanghai to purchase personal information. Citing
the prosecutor on the case, the report added that the couple had
been fully aware of the illegality of their actions. Between
2009 and 2013 the couple illegally obtained private information
during investigations into close to a thousand firms and a large
number of private individuals, including household registration
data, real estate and vehicle documents, as well as phone
records, it added.
GSK officials could not be immediately reached for comment.
Humphrey previously worked for Reuters as a journalist in the
1980s and 90s.
(Additional reporting by Hui Li; Editing by Kazunori Takada and
Edwina Gibbs)
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