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US judge dismisses ex-sleuths’ lawsuit against GlaxoSmithKline over Chinese whistle-blower

Court throws out case by British investigator and his American wife who were arrested in 2013 after being hired to investigate ex-GSK employee

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A judge in the United States has dismissed a lawsuit by two former corporate investigators who accused British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline of misleading them into investigating a whistle-blower in China. Photo: Xinhua

A judge in the United States has dismissed a lawsuit by two former corporate investigators who accused British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline of misleading them into investigating a whistle-blower in China, leading to their arrest amid a bribery scandal involving the drug maker.

US District Judge Nitza Quinones Alejandro in Philadelphia on Friday threw out the case by British investigator Peter Humphrey and his American wife, Yu Yingzeng, who were arrested in 2013 in China after GSK hired them to look into a former employee.

The judge said a US Supreme Court ruling barred lawsuits filed under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act over injuries that occur entirely outside the United States such as this one involving incidents in China.

“For this reason, plaintiffs lack standing to assert civil claims, and these claims are dismissed,” Quinones Alejandro wrote.

A lawyer for Humphrey and Yingzeng declined to comment on Monday. GSK said it was pleased with the ruling.

The lawsuit was filed in November 2016 by Humphrey and Yingzeng, the co-founders of ChinaWhy, a company that according to court papers helped US and European businesses address compliance issues related to anti-bribery regulations.

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