GlaxoSmithKline fined $490m by China for bribery

China has fined UK pharmaceuticals firm GlaxoSmithKline $490m (£297m) after a court found it guilty of bribery.

The record penalty follows allegations the drug giant paid out bribes to doctors and hospitals in order to have their products promoted.

The court gave GSK's former head of Chinese operations, Mark Reilly, a suspended three-year prison sentence and he is set to be deported.

Other GSK executives have also been given suspended jail sentences.

The guilty verdict was delivered after a one-day trial at a court in Changsha, according to the Xinhua news agency.

Chinese authorities first announced they were investigating GSK in July last year, in what has become the

Systematic bribery at GlaxoSmithKline China 'credible' - investigator

Allegations that pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) systematically bribed doctors in China are credible, says an investigator hired by the firm.

Peter Humphrey was hired only to investigate who was behind a suspected smear campaign against GSK.

But after he finished his report, he learned the details of further allegations against the firm and told colleagues he believed they were true.

GSK told the BBC it did not tolerate corruption in its business.

"We have many policies, procedures and controls in place to monitor this and take action against any

Sex tape adds to GSK China scandal

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has confirmed the existence of a sex tape of its former head in China, the latest twist in its corruption scandal in the country.

The secretly-filmed video of Mark Reilly and his Chinese girlfriend was emailed to several senior executives of the British firm in March last year.

Mr Reilly has been accused of ordering staff to bribe hospital officials to use GSK products.

GSK said it was continuing to co-operate with the Chinese authorities.

"The issues relating to our China business are very difficult and complicated," the firm said in a statement.

The revelation has added to the