CHINA has imposed a record fine of 3 billion yuan (US$489 million) on British pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for bribing doctors to use its drugs.

    Mark Reilly, the former head of GSK in China, was sentenced to three years in jail with a four-year reprieve. He would be expelled from China, Xinhua reported. Four other GSK executives — all Chinese — were given suspended jail sentences ranging from two to three years.

    Changsha Intermediate People’s Court in Hunan Province ruled GSK was guilty of “bribing nongovernment personnel.” The fine imposed on GSK was the biggest ever by a Chinese court, Xinhua said. All defendants had accepted the verdict and the sentences, and would not appeal, it said.

    GSK published a statement of apology to the Chinese Government and people, saying it “deeply regrets the damage caused.”

    The investigation found that Reilly, with other GSK executives, set up sales units that gained billions of yuan in illegal income by bribing doctors, hospitals and health officials to use its drugs.(SD-Agencies)