A sex tape of the former head of GlaxoSmith Kline (GSK) in China is believed to have been the catalyst for the ongoing corruption investigations into the company.
The secretly-filmed footage shows Mark Reilly, the former head of GSK’s China unit, having sex with his Chinese girlfriend in his Shanghai flat, and was sent to senior GSK executives in March 2013.
Reilly was authorised by GSK to hire private investigator Peter Humphrey to determine the origins of the sex tape, according to a report in The Sunday Times. However, Humphrey was arrested after inquiring into a well-connected Chinese businesswoman, and his inquiries led to Chinese authorities launching a probe into GSK business practices in the country.
Last month, Reilly was charged with bribery and fraud in connection with a long-standing scheme to boost drug sales in China. He is accused of ordering staff to bribe hospitals to use GSK products resulting in higher drug prices and illegal sales of more than £88 million.
GSK said it was continuing to co-operate with the Chinese authorities.
