Australian travel chief on embezzlement charges
Source: Agencies |
December 3, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AN Australian businessman detained last month in southern China has been charged with embezzlement, Australia's government confirmed yesterday.
Matthew Ng, 44, was formally charged on Tuesday after being detained in Guangzhou on November 16, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement.
Ng is CEO of a travel services company reportedly embroiled in a dispute with a local partner.
"The Australian government is monitoring developments closely to ensure due legal process is followed," the statement said. "The Consulate-General in Guangzhou has raised the Australian government's strong interest in the case at senior levels of the Guangdong government."
The department would not comment on whether Ng was denying the charges. He remains listed as chief executive of the travel company, Et-China, on its website.
The case follows the arrest and conviction this year in Shanghai of four employees of mining giant Rio Tinto, including Australian citizen Stern Hu, for bribery and infringing trade secrets. Hu was sentenced in April to 10 years in prison, while three colleagues were jailed for between seven and 14 years.
At the time of his arrest, Hu was in charge of Rio Tinto's troubled iron ore price negotiations with China.
The Australian government's statement noted that Ng's charges are very different to those faced by Hu.
Et-China has a joint venture handling e-ticketing sales and services for Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines.
At the time of Ng's arrest, Australian media said the detention was related to a business dispute between Et-China and another local partner, Guangdong Lingnan International Enterprises.
Australian newspaper The Age said the two sides were at odds over control of a venture called Guangzhou GZL International Travel Services, which, according to Et-China's website, is 50.6 percent owned by Et-China and is one of the country's largest tour operators.
Lingnan, a state-owned group that operates several prestigious Guangzhou hotels, opposed a planned acquisition of Et-China by Switzerland's Kuoni Group, the report said.
Matthew Ng, 44, was formally charged on Tuesday after being detained in Guangzhou on November 16, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement.
Ng is CEO of a travel services company reportedly embroiled in a dispute with a local partner.
"The Australian government is monitoring developments closely to ensure due legal process is followed," the statement said. "The Consulate-General in Guangzhou has raised the Australian government's strong interest in the case at senior levels of the Guangdong government."
The department would not comment on whether Ng was denying the charges. He remains listed as chief executive of the travel company, Et-China, on its website.
The case follows the arrest and conviction this year in Shanghai of four employees of mining giant Rio Tinto, including Australian citizen Stern Hu, for bribery and infringing trade secrets. Hu was sentenced in April to 10 years in prison, while three colleagues were jailed for between seven and 14 years.
At the time of his arrest, Hu was in charge of Rio Tinto's troubled iron ore price negotiations with China.
The Australian government's statement noted that Ng's charges are very different to those faced by Hu.
Et-China has a joint venture handling e-ticketing sales and services for Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines.
At the time of Ng's arrest, Australian media said the detention was related to a business dispute between Et-China and another local partner, Guangdong Lingnan International Enterprises.
Australian newspaper The Age said the two sides were at odds over control of a venture called Guangzhou GZL International Travel Services, which, according to Et-China's website, is 50.6 percent owned by Et-China and is one of the country's largest tour operators.
Lingnan, a state-owned group that operates several prestigious Guangzhou hotels, opposed a planned acquisition of Et-China by Switzerland's Kuoni Group, the report said.
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