JD.com share price falls after CEO’s sexual misconduct arrest

Chinese retail giant JD.com's share price has fallen more than six per cent in early trading this afternoon, after its chief executive was arrested and released on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct in the US over the weekend.

Richard Liu has since returned to China, after being arrested by Minneapolis policy on Friday and later released on Saturday morning.

Local police said the investigation into the founder of JD.com is still ongoing.

Read more: JD.com boss returns to China after US arrest for sexual misconduct

Shares in JD.com have fallen roughly 25 per cent so far in 2018.

Lawyers and spokespeople for Liu have maintained the retail tycoon's innocence, saying he was released "without any charges and without requirement for bail" over the "unsubstantiated" claims.

The case was reportedly brought against Liu by a Chinese student at the University of Minnesota where Liu is a student of its doctoral business administration programme, according to sources speaking with the Financial Times.