High-powered GSK team flown in to aid China graft probe

The former head of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in China and a high-powered team from the drug giant's London headquarters will visit China soon to co-operate with the investigation into the company, as more details of arrests and financial and sexual bribery emerge.

In a letter sent on July 25 from GSK to the Ministry of Public Security, the London- and New York-listed firm said it would send Mark Reilly, its global audit team, security personnel and senior lawyers to Shanghai, the ministry announced yesterday.

"The company has guaranteed a quick and effective response to the Chinese investigation and will continue to develop its business in China. The Ministry of Public Security welcomes GSK's attitude and hopes GSK will restore normal operations in China as soon as possible," said the ministry.

GSK's operations in China were nearly paralysed and totally controlled by its London headquarters, while many mainland sales representatives had left the firm, Xinhua reported.

Asked if GSK's China operations had suffered, a GSK spokesman replied: "It is too early to say what the impact … will be. Both ourselves and the Ministry of Public Security are keen to maintain business continuity so our medicines can be available to our customers in China."

Since June 17, police have arrested 18 GSK employees in Zhengzhou , the capital of Henan province, reported Xinhua.

A 31-year-old GSK sales manager in Zhengzhou, identified as Mr Li, was quoted by Xinhua as describing how in early July he was told by his superiors to attend a meeting of GSK sales representatives in Zhengzhou to receive instructions on how to respond to police investigations. But Li was taken away by police before the meeting could start.