LONDON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Two former corporateinvestigators have sued GlaxoSmithKline, alleging thedrugmaker misled them and induced them to investigate aninnocent person, resulting in their imprisonment.
The complaint, filed with the U.S. District Court inPhiladelphia and made public on Wednesday, was brought by PeterHumphrey, who is British, and his American wife, Yu Yingzeng.
The couple were detained in 2013 and found guilty by aChinese court in 2014 after being asked by GSK to investigate awhistleblower within the pharmaceuticals group.
They were convicted of illegally obtaining private recordsof Chinese citizens.
The couple allege GSK misled them by stating that thewhistleblower's allegations of widespread corruption within thecompany were false. GSK was fined a record 3 billion yuan ($436million) in 2014 for paying bribes to doctors to use its drugs.
A GSK spokesman said: "We do not believe this case has anymerit and will vigorously defend against the allegations."($1 = 6.8770 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Ben Hirschler and Jonathan Stempel; Editing byAlexander Smith)
Glaxosmithkline (GSK)