Beijing/New York — Richard Liu, the billionaire CEO of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, was arrested in the US state of Minnesota on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct and later released, and police said an investigation is ongoing. JD.com said the accusations against Liu were unsubstantiated and "local police quickly determined there was no substance to the claim". John Elder, a spokesman for the Minneapolis Police Department, said, however, that "an active investigation" was under way but it was possible for Liu to leave the US. He declined to provide details of the arrest. "We don’t know if there will be charges or not because we haven’t concluded an investigation," Elder told Reuters on Sunday. Liu is the highest-profile Chinese businessperson to be accused of sexual misconduct. The #MeToo movement that has highlighted sexual misconduct has derailed the careers of well-known entertainers, corporate executives and politicians in the US and other countries, and has begun to find...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.