Bloomberg News
Liu Qiangdong, the billionaire chief executive of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com Inc. JD, +0.97% , was arrested Friday in Minnesota on suspicion of sexual misconduct but released after what the company said was a false accusation.
“During a business trip to the United States, Mr. Liu was questioned by police in Minnesota in relation to an unsubstantiated accusation,” the company said Sunday in a statement. “The local police quickly determined there was no substance to the claim against Mr. Liu, and he was subsequently able to resume his business activities as originally planned.”
John Elder, public information officer for the Minneapolis Police Department, said a man he identified as Qiang Dong Liu had been arrested on a sexual misconduct allegation and released, but said the case remains open.
“This is an active investigation,” Elder said. “That individual was released pending formal complaint.” Elder said Liu was held on probable cause before being released, with no bail being set. Investigators in Minnesota can either hold a person for up to 36 hours before charging them, or release them and continue an investigation. “We can charge him anytime up to the statute of limitations running out,” Elder said. Depending on the details of the crime, criminal sexual conduct could either be a gross misdemeanor or a felony, he said.
An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.
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