A case filed against four Shanghai-based executives of Rio Tinto, the world's biggest iron ore producer, who were last year jailed in China on allegations of bribery and other commercial crimes, was turned over to prosecutors on Monday, January 11, a move which is seen as the next step in the legal process against the four.
A press release by Rio Tinto said that the Chinese Public Security Bureau, which is investigating the four detained on July 5, 2009, has transferred the case to the People's Procuratorate in Shanghai.
As reported by the international press, a spokeswoman for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra said, "The case is now in the hands of the Shanghai People's Procuratorate, who will decide whether it should be brought to trial," adding that it was not clear how long the case would remain with the prosecutors.
Rio Tinto iron ore division chief executive Sam Walsh said in the company press release, "This transfer is the next stage in a continuing legal process under Chinese law. It would not be appropriate for the company to comment any further at this point in the case other than to reaffirm our hope that matters proceed in an expeditious and transparent manner."