CANBERRA, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Chinese authorities are expected to say on Monday whether four Rio Tinto Ltd employees detained for six months over commercial bribery allegations will have their cases referred to prosecutors, Australia's foreign ministry said.
The four, including Australian citizen Stern Hu, have been in Chinese custody since Julyover accusations of illegally obtaining commercial secrets.
"We are expecting that at some point during the course of today, we should hear further on what's been decided," an Australian foreign ministry spokeswoman said.
Hu was formally arrested on Aug. 11 with three Chinese executives from the Anglo-Australian mining company, testing China's relations with major resource trade partner Australia.
A Rio Tinto spokesman declined to comment on the case, which has placed a cloud over already contentious iron ore price negotiations between China and miners Rio, its fellow Australian miner BHP Billiton and Brazil's Vale.
China is Australia's biggest trade partner, with trade worth $53 billion last year. Australia exported $15 billion worth of iron ore to China in 2008, or 41 percent of China's iron ore imports.
Australian media reports, citing unnamed sources, said the case would not be extended and a resolution was likely, but Acting Foreign Minister Simon Crean said there was "potential for a further extension".
"We have urged transparency, we have urged expedition. We also argue appropriate process of law and we will continue to monitor that, Crean told Australian radio.
Australia's conservative opposition's finance spokesman, Barnaby Joyce, said on Monday Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, a Mandarin-speaking former diplomat with strong China expertise, should become more closely involved in lobbying efforts on Hu's behalf. (Reporting by Rob Taylor; Editing by Jonathan Standing)