Rio Tinto PLC (LON:RIO) has suspended a senior executive while another has left the miner after allegations of bribery at its Simandou project in Guinea.
Energy & Minerals division chief executive Alan Davies, who had accountability for the Simandou project in 2011, has been suspended with immediate effect.
Debra Valentine, a Legal & Regulatory Affairs group executive, has stepped down from her role early said the miner. She had already indicated she would retire next year.
Rio Tinto said that it become aware in August of email correspondence from 2011 relating to US$10.5mln payment to a consultant providing advisory services at Simandou.
An investigation led by external counsel was instigated and based on the information uncovered to date, Rio Tinto has today notified the relevant authorities in the UK and US and will contact the Australian authorities.
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