China arrests staff at UK pharma firm

Police have detained employees from British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.NYSE, GSK.LON) in Beijing, Shanghai and Changsha after allegations of data fraud and bribery hit the company’s mainland operations last month, South China Morning Post reported. Several employees, including a foreign finance executive, were seized from the company’s Shanghai office last week. Changsha police say they are investigating several senior executives from GlaxoSmithKline Investment in Changsha for economic crimes. GSK has launched an internal investigation into allegations that its employees bribed doctors. The US Department of Justice is investigating the company for alleged violations of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.