China Daily reports that six days following their arrest, two Shanghai-based employees of the giant mining company Rio Tinto were allowed to meet with their defense attorneys for the first time.



The paper quotes Tao Wuping, a lawyer representing Rio Tinto employee Liu Caikui, as saying: "After the meeting, I have a lot more information about the case and the investigations now, but I can't say anything more at the moment."



In the past, Tao defended one of Shanghai's leading entrepreneurs, Zhou Zhengyi, against charges of economic crimes.



Liu and three other suspects employed by mining giant Rio Tinto were arrested by the Chinese police for allegedly paying out by bribes to win a stake in the Sino-Australian iron ore price talks.



The four have been accused of stealing trade secrets and bribery, charges that could carry prolonged jail sentences.



Stern Hu, an Australian national and an executive in the mining company’s Shanghai office who is also charged with involvement in the sceme, will probably meet with his lawyer today.



In another development, officials at the Shandong-based Laigang Group yesterday admitted that one of its senior executives, Wang Hongjiu, was investigated last month on suspicion that he was also involved in the bribery scheme.



According to reports, Tan Yixin, a senior executive of the Beijing-based steel maker Shougang Group, was also detained for alleged "commercial crimes" connected to the case.