August trial likely for Briton, US wife in case linked to GSK

A British private investigator and his American wife and business partner, who were detained in China last year over their work for British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), are likely to go on trial in August in Shanghai, according to caixin.com.

Media previously reported that the trial was scheduled for July 29, but sources close to the family said it is postponed to August 7 and might be a closed hearing due to privacy reasons, Reuters reported.

The couple, husband Peter Humphrey and wife Yu Yingzeng, was detained on July 10 last year for allegedly obtaining private information of citizens during a bribery investigation into their clients, which led to the unveiling of widespread bribery at GSK. The pharmaceutical firm was accused of bribing great numbers of doctors and hospital administrators to sell its products.

Their arrest was later approved by the No.1 Branch of the Shanghai People's Procuratorate on August 16, 2013, caixin.com reported.

The couple, who used to run a Shanghai-based investigative firm ChinaWhys, acknowledged in an interrogation that they illegally bought personal information of others for 800 yuan ($129) to 2,000 yuan, including residence addresses, details of family members, properties, personal entry and exit records and other sensitive information. They made profits of millions of yuan every year, according to caixin.com.

Humphrey and Yu were hired by GSK in April 2013 to investigate the person who had placed a camera in the bedroom of the British company's China head Mark Reilly, who received a covert sex tape of him and his girlfriend in March last year.

Authorities have not openly made a link between GSK and the case against ChinaWhys, said Reuters.

The couple will face the charge of illegally purchasing private information. There was another charge of running an illicit business, which has been dropped. Their company ChinaWhys has been closed down.

US consular officials had been informed on Wednesday when visiting Yu that they would not be able to attend the trial. The US and British consulates declined to comment, said Reuters.