China denies mistreatment of GSK investigators
Updated: 2015-06-19 10:43
By Liu Jing(chinadaily.com.cn)
|
|||||||||||
Peter Humphrey (R) and his wife [Photo/CCTV] |
Foreign Ministry on Thursday denied the accusation that the British investigator working for drug maker GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK) and his wife were mistreated in Chinese prison.
Spokesperson Lu Kang said the allegation is not true.
"The relevant Chinese authorities acted in accordance with the law and guaranteed his rights," Lu said during a news conference, noting that the couple pleaded guilty and showed repentance during their imprisonment.
Lu said the authorities submitted a recommendation to the relevant court for commutation of the prison term. The court, after the examination, granted commutation to them in accordance with the law.
Peter Humphrey, 58, and his wife Yu Yingzeng, 61, were accused of illegally obtaining private information on Chinese citizens for clients, including GSK, through a consulting firm registered in Shanghai.
The couple were sentenced to two years in prison and fined 150,000 yuan ($24,165) in August. They returned to the UK on Wednesday evening.
In comments emailed to Reuters via a family friend, Humphrey said his requests for appropriate medical attention were deliberately obstructed by prison officers. He said he has prostate tumor and his wife a kidney disease.
Asked about Humphrey's claims of a forced confession, Lu said, "I am astonished about this. It seems that his stance was different before and after."
Humphrey's case unfolded alongside an investigation of GSK that led to a $489 million fine on the company and was the first time that foreigners were prosecuted for conducting an illegal investigation in China.
Related Stories
GSK China faces record fine for bribery 2014-09-19 16:50
First UK volunteer gets experimental GSK Ebola shot in trial 2014-09-18 15:58
GSK-linked investigators confessed to trafficking personal data 2014-08-09 15:20
UK fraud office liaising with China on GSK bribery case 2014-07-24 07:50
Expat pair indicted in GSK case 2014-07-15 07:17
Today's Top News
Grexit risk hikes
China, Russia sign railway deal
HK lawmakers reject election reform proposal
No mistreatment of GSK sleuth: China
Lies and false hopes entrap Xinjiangers
EU seeks to ban animal cloning
European panda fans travel to Sichuan, China
Huawei committed to UK expansion
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Premier Li embarks on Latin America visit |
What do we know about AIIB |
Full coverage of Boao Forum for Asia |
Annual legislative and political advisory sessions |
Festival Special: Apps that make holiday shopping easier |
Listed firms caught in anti-corruption net |