By Rob Davies British drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline is to face a criminal investigation by the Serious Fraud Office, it emerged last night. The SFO said it was probing Glaxo’s ‘commercial practices’, understood to be a reference to allegations of bribery in China and several other countries. The pharmaceuticals firm, one of only two British drugs giants alongside AstraZeneca, became embroiled in a scandal last year when Chinese officials accused it of operating a vast bribery network. The Serious Fraud Office said it was probing Glaxo's 'commercial practices', understood to be a reference to allegations of bribery in China and several other countries
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Serious Fraud Office confirmed it was probing firm's 'commercial practices'
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British drugs giant was accused last year of operating vast bribery network
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Follows scandal in China, where company was accused of bribing doctors
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While the allegations relate to GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) staff on foreign soil, the SFO has jurisdiction over any alleged bribery offence carried out by a @placeholder firm, regardless of whether it takes place overseas.