China sends Australian Rio officer to jail for 10 yrs

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - A Chinese court sentenced four Rio Tinto employees to 7 to 14 years in jail on Monday for taking bribes and stealing commercial secrets, a verdict the Australian government called harsh.

The Shanghai Intermediate People's Court said China-born Australian citizen Stern Hu, who headed Rio Tinto's iron ore operations in China, will serve 10 years, with parts of a 7 year bribery term and a 5 year secrets sentence running concurrently.