China sentences Australian to 13 years in jail: Canberra

SYDNEYA : Chinese court Tuesday sentenced an Australian businessman to 13 years in jail for bribery and embezzlement, the foreign ministry in Canberra said.

Matthew Ng, an executive working for travel services group Et-China in southern China, is expected to appeal the sentence, a spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.

"He has been sentenced to 13 years," the spokeswoman told AFP.

"The Australian government understands Matthew Ng intends to appeal his 13-year sentence on four charges relating to embezzlement and bribery."