China’s market regulator warned Microsoft today not to interfere with an ongoing anti-monopoly investigation. Investigators from the State Administration for Industry and Commerce have started inquiries into Microsoft's corporate vice president Mary Snapp and warned that the company must abide by Chinese law and not interfere with the investigation "in any way."
The SAIC said last week that it has launched an investigation of Microsoft China and its branches in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu for alleged monopoly practices. Inspectors have made copies of the company's financial statements and contracts and also seized documents, e-mails and other data from computers and servers.
But investigators say they haven’t been able to complete their work because key Microsoft personnel aren’t in China or can’t be reached. Microsoft’s China unit says it has always abided by Chinese laws and will "actively answer" questions raised in the case.