Richard Liu has returned to China, says JD.com

Richard Liu, tech billionaire and JD.com founder, has returned to China following his arrest and temporary detainment in the US on suspicion of criminal sexual misconduct.

“Mr. Liu has been released without any charges and without requirement for bail,” the company said in a statement released on its official Weibo account on Monday. “He has returned to work in China.”

Liu was arrested in Minneapolis on Friday on suspicion of criminal sexual misconduct, according to local police, which sparked debated discussions on Chinese social media.

In response, JD.com said that Liu was falsely accused, adding that the police did not find evidence of wrongdoing after an investigation.

The Minneapolis Police Department over the weekend said the investigation remained active but would not confirm details of the arrest or the allegations against 45-year-old Liu.

China’s foreign ministry said on Monday that its consulate in Chicago was closely following developments in the case.

It was “seeking information and verification from the related US authorities”, ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters.

JD.com, backed by Walmart, Google, and Tencent, is China’s second-largest online shopping site, competing with larger rival Alibaba.

Liu founded the company about two decades ago. JD.com has been listed on the Nasdaq since 2014 and has grown to around $45 billion valuation. The site sells everything from appliances and apparel to groceries and has a sprawling logistics network for quick delivery.

Liu is well known in China and has a net worth of $7.9 billion, according to Forbes.