MOSCOW, September 20 (RIA Novosti) - GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) will pay a fine of three billion yuan (£297m) to the Chinese government after a court rendered a positive judgment on bribery, The Guardian reported.
"GSK plc fully accepts the facts and evidence of the investigation, and the verdict of the Chinese judicial authorities. Furthermore, GSK plc sincerely apologises to the Chinese patients, doctors and hospitals, and to the Chinese Government and the Chinese people," read the statement published on the company's website Friday.
The court found that the GSK sales team in China bribed doctors with 3 billion yuan to use the company's drugs.
"The illegal activities of GSKCI are a clear breach of GSK plc's governance and compliance procedures; and are wholly contrary to the values and standards we expect from our employees," the statement continued. "It is deeply disappointing that these issues were not identified and addressed."
According to the newspaper, the former chief of the company's China unit, Mark Reilly, and other GSK executives face jail terms ranging from two to four years.
Earlier this month it was reported that the company is also facing bribery allegations in Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Poland.
