Sydney, August 11: Rio Tinto Ltd said on Tuesday that 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 today 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. Today’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.
–Agencies