Olympic activities complied with law: BHP Billiton

Anglo-Australian miner, BHP Billiton said today that it was cooperating with investigations by US and Australian law enforcement into possible violations of anti-corruption laws in connection with its sponsorship of 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Australia's The Age newspaper had yesterday reported that the miner was under investigation for graft (See: BHP Billiton under scanner over bribery allegations)

"We believe our Olympic activities complied with all applicable law," the world's biggest miner said in a statement.

"BHP Billiton is fully committed to operating with integrity and the group's policies specifically prohibit engaging in bribery in all its forms," it said.

Between 2000 and 2008, the company spent millions of dollars on its Olympics sponsorship and hospitality and was classified as an official games sponsor and providing the metals that went into 6,000 gold, silver and bronze medals won at the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, AFP reported. China had emerged as the company's biggest market thanks to its industrial demand for raw materials.

The US Department of Justice told The Age newspaper that BHP Billiton was under "law enforcement proceedings" in response to a freedom of information request that was being conducted by its criminal division.