Charges closer for Rio four

THE police file on Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu and his three Chinese colleagues was handed to prosecutors yesterday, ending a six-month investigation. The decision opens another chapter that may involve the laying of formal and detailed charges within six weeks, followed by a court trial. ''Today [Chinese authorities] informed our Shanghai Consulate-General that the investigation phase has concluded,'' Australia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in an email yesterday. ''The case is now in the hands of the Shanghai People's Procuratorate [prosecutor] who will decide whether it should be brought to trial,'' it said. Mr Hu and his iron ore sales team - Ge Minqiang, Liu Caikui and Wang Yong - have not seen their families or friends since July 5, when they were led away by officers from the Shanghai Security Bureau. The Chinese Government initially accused the four of giving bribes and stealing state secrets but then downgraded the charges to receiving bribes and obtaining commercial secrets. Officials have not disclosed details of the case with the accused men, their lawyers, the Australian Government or Rio Tinto. The case is likely to remain opaque unless and until formal charges are laid. Chinese judicial authorities rarely abort investigations once they have come this far and court conviction rates are high.