葛蘭素史克承認在中國行賄歷史醜聞

GlaxoSmithKline faces further scrutiny from US prosecutors after it emerged that staff were caught bribing Chinese officials more than a decade ago.

葛蘭素史克(GSK)員工10多年前就曾被抓到賄賂中國官員，消息傳出後，該公司再次被美國檢方置於放大鏡下。

The news comes as US and UK authorities investigate allegations that GSK employees bribed doctors and officials more recently to boost drug sales in China.

美國和英國當局正在調查有關GSK近年爲促進藥品銷售在中國賄賂醫生和官員的指控。

The Financial Times has learnt that GSK uncovered problems with its China vaccine business in 2001 that led to the firing of about 30 employees.

英國《金融時報》得知，GSK在2001年就曾發現中國疫苗業務存在腐敗問題，並因此開除了約30名員工。

The US Department of Justice, which is investigating the current allegations, will take a close look at the earlier scandal, according to a former senior DoJ official who wished to remain anonymous.

一名希望匿名的美國司法部(DoJ)前高級官員表示，正在對目前的指控展開調查的美國司法部，將密切關注早前的醜聞。

If prosecutors find a pattern of such behaviour, they are likely to take a tougher stance toward the company, legal experts said.

法律專業人士表示，如果檢方發現存在一種行爲模式，他們很可能對GSK採取更嚴厲立場。

GSK has been under scrutiny since Chinese authorities accused it of paying up to $500m in bribes. The DoJ is looking at the case as part of a broad probe into drugmakers under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

自中國當局指控GSK行賄至多5億美元以來，GSK一直被置於放大鏡下。美國司法部正在調查GSK案，這是它根據《反海外腐敗法》(Foreign Corrupt Practices Act)對製藥企業展開的調查的一部分。

Two people familiar with the 2001 scandal said GSK found that staff had been bribing Chinese officials and taking kickbacks. The company acknowledged the matter for the first time to the FT but said it had dealt with the issue rigorously.

2001年那次醜聞的兩名知情人士表示，GSK當時發現自己的員工賄賂中國官員並收受回扣。GSK首次向英國《金融時報》承認了此事，但表示它已對那件事做出了嚴肅處理。

Timothy Blakely, a partner at US law firm Morrison & Foerster, said US prosecutors would have to examine the 2001 case under justice department guidelines to see whether there was a pattern of behaviour.

美國美富律師事務所(Morrison Foerster)合夥人蒂莫西•布萊克利(Timothy Blakely)表示，美國檢方必須按照司法部的指導原則調查2001年的案件，以確定是否存在一種行爲模式。

“It is something that a prosecutor would have to take into account,” said Mr Blakely.

布萊克利表示：“這是檢方必須考慮的一個因素。”

GSK asked PwC to investigate the case at the time the corruption suspicions emerged. “These matters occurred over 12 years ago. We believe appropriate investigation and action was taken at the time,” it said.

當年腐敗懷疑浮出水面時，GSK曾委託普華永道(PwC)進行調查。GSK表示：“這些事情發生在12年前。我們相信當時我們進行了適當的調查，採取了適當的行動。”

One member of the PwC team in 2001 was Peter Humphrey. Now an independent investigator, he is being held in China on charges of illegally buying private information in connection with GSK’s current scandal.

2001年承接GSK調查工作的普華永道團隊中就有韓飛龍(Peter Humphrey)。後來成爲獨立調查員的他眼下在中國被拘留，面對非法購買與GSK近期醜聞有關的私人信息的刑事指控。

The rapid move to hire PwC in 2001 contrasts with its response to the latest scandal. After a whistleblower made allegations against the company last year, GSK first relied on an internal probe with external legal and auditor support.

2001年，GSK迅速聘請了普華永道進行調查，這與它對最近這場醜聞的反應形成了鮮明對比。在去年舉報者提出指控之後，GSK最初依賴於內部調查，輔之以外部法律和審計支持。

That inquiry found no evidence of systemic corruption, although some staff were dismissed for expenses irregularities. GSK has since hired Ropes & Gray, a US law firm, to conduct an external inquiry.

儘管有一些員工因報銷違規被解僱，但那次內部調查的結論是，並無證據顯示GSK存在系統化的腐敗。在那之後，GSK聘請了美國Ropes & Gray律師事務所進行外部調查。

In May, Chinese police said they had evidence of “massive and systemic bribery”.

今年5月，中國警方表示他們掌握存在“大規模、系統性的賄賂行爲”的證據。

“We have zero tolerance for unethical behaviour,” GSK said. “We investigate any allegations put to us and take action where necessary.”

GSK表示：“我們對不道德行爲採取零容忍。我們調查向我們提出的任何指控，並在必要情況下采取行動。”

At the time of the 2001 incident, Sir Andrew Witty, GSK chief executive, was the company’s head of Asia-Pacific but his responsibilities excluded China. GSK has declined to say whether Sir Andrew was aware of the 2001 scandal.

2001年那次事件發生時，GSK現首席執行官安偉傑爵士(Sir Andrew Witty)是GSK亞太區總裁，但他當時不負責中國業務。GSK拒絕澄清安偉傑是否知道2001年的醜聞。

He has tried to cast GSK as a leader in ethical reforms since it was hit with a record $3bn DoJ fine for marketing abuses in 2012. However, the clean-up effort has been overshadowed by the latest scandal in China.

自美國司法部在2012年因市場推廣違規開出30億美元的天價罰單以來，安偉傑試圖將GSK塑造爲道德改革的領頭羊。然而，最近發生在中國的醜聞給GSK的自潔努力蒙上陰影。