The photo released by the Shanghai court shows Peter Humphrey (left) and his wife Yu Yingzeng (in red)The British investigator who once worked for GlaxoSmithKline was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail for trafficking personal data in China.
The Shanghai court that sentenced Peter Humphrey also sentenced his American wife Yu Yingzeng to two years.
They were arrested in July 2013.
GSK had hired their Shanghai-based firm, ChinaWhys, to investigate e-mails from a former employee that alleged widespread bribery at the British drugmaker.
The ex-employee was also suspected of circulating a sex tape of former GSK China head Mark Reilly with his girlfriend.
China police arrested Reilly in May. He and two China nationals who worked for GSK were charged with offering bribes to hospital personnel and doctors to boost GSK’s sales.
All three defendants face up to life in prison.
In July last year, China authorities accused GSK, the UK’s biggest pharma, of paying $482 million in bribes.
Judge Yu Jian of the Shanghai No.1 Intermediate People’s Court said ChinaWhys had purchased mobile phone records, customs information, and household registration details for four years until their arrest.
Humphrey and his wife admitted buying background information but said they didn’t know the practice was against the law.
They have the right to appeal their sentences within 10 days.
A official from the Shanghai court said Humphrey would be deported, reports said. There were no other detials.
The verdict didn’t link the charges against the Humphreys or their investigation to GSK.
________
Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog. He can be contacted here.
1 Comment
All the Big 4's Forensic Services Practices and any other consulting firm's investigation practices in China did and/or are still doing the same crime, i.e. trafficking personal data (including household registration details etc.) in China. But only the smallest and weakest fish – Peter Humphrey is indicted. This is pathetic! Take on the Big 4 if the Chinese Legal System had ever the wish to excise fairness and justice!!!….
Comments are closed for this article!