At least 18 more people have been detained in China in connection with a corruption scandal involving British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline, state media reported, giving more details on an investigation that has rocked the company.
China’s state radio reported late on Friday on its website that police in the central city of Zhengzhou had “recently held, in accordance with the law, 18 GlaxoSmithKline (China) employees and some medical personnel”.
It provided no details of the detentions nor say exactly when they happened.
The Zhengzhou police news department, reached by telephone, said they were “unaware of the situation” and declined to comment further.
A GSK spokesman in London declined to comment on the report.
Chinese police have previously announced the detention of four Chinese GSK executives in connection with allegations that the drugmaker funnelled up to 3 billion yuan (HK$ 3.8 billion ) to travel agencies to facilitate bribes to doctors and officials.
GSK has admitted that some Chinese executives appeared to have broken the law but Chief Executive Andrew Witty said on Wednesday that head office had no knowledge of the alleged wrongdoing.