UK fraud office liaising with China on GSK bribery case
Updated: 2014-07-24 07:50
(Agencies)
|
|||||||||||
LONDON - Britain's fraud office is working with authorities in China in a first for such Anglo-Chinese cooperation as it carries out its own investigation into alleged corruption at drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline.
"Certainly, so far as I am aware it is the first time we have had cooperation with the Chinese on an SFO case," David Green, the head of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), said in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday.
Green, who said he had visited China earlier this year, said the Chinese government had a clear interest in rooting out bribery and corruption although it might have "slightly different perspectives" than the SFO.
The SFO launched a formal criminal investigation into Britain's biggest drugmaker in May, posing a new challenge to the company, which has been accused by Chinese police of funnelling up to 3 billion yuan ($480 million) in bribes to encourage doctors to use its medicines.
The SFO action came less than two weeks after Chinese police announced on May 14 that they had charged the former British boss of GSK's China business and other colleagues with corruption.
The US Department of Justice is also investigating GSK for possible breaches of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits payments to government officials, including state-employed doctors, to obtain business overseas.
Britain's relatively new Bribery Act also prohibits such overseas bribes.
Since the case in China blew up in July last year, allegations of GSK bribery have surfaced in other countries and GSK is now investigating claims that bribes were also paid to doctors in Poland, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon.
Green said the SFO was looking into GSK's behaviour in a number of jurisdictions, including Europe and the Middle East. In many cases, the facts behind the allegations have still to be established - and his office has asked for assistance from whistleblowers.
"Suffice to say we have a number of sources of information," Green said.
GSK Chief Executive Andrew Witty has described the allegations in China as "shameful". However, he declined to comment in detail about the case when questioned by reporters after presenting second-quarter results.
"I remain very concerned about allegations concerning our China business. The situation is complicated and difficult and while the investigation is active there is little I can add," Witty said.
Sex video is new twist in GSK China scandal | Police reveals more about GSK China's violations |
Related Stories
Expat pair indicted in GSK case 2014-07-15 07:17
GSK China's private-eye agents indicted in Shanghai for illegal investigation 2014-07-14 11:15
GSK case sounds alarm for foreign firms 2014-05-16 13:15
GSK China executive charged with bribery 2014-05-15 07:09
China accuses former GSK head of bribing doctors 2014-05-14 15:39
Today's Top News
TransAsia crash while landing in Taiwan
UK fraud office liaising with China on GSK bribery case
Death toll in Gaza mounts to 701
Meat supplier in global crisis
Dogs 'capable' of feeling jealousy
Five detained over stale meat scandal
5 more universities set up human rights centers
Rebels likely downed jet 'by mistake'
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Reading into an online age |
China helps fight international war on drugs |
Crackdown on terrorist attacks |
My China Story: Meeting the master |
Long march to end employment bias |
Variety is the spice of academic life |