The sentence delivered to Hu by a Shanghai court last week had provoked strong protests from the Australian government, which described the punishment as "harsh" and said there were "serious unanswered questions" about the trial.

But while Hu's three Chinese co-defendants opted to appeal, Hu's legal team said the Australian had decided to accept the ruling in the case, which stoked foreign investors' anxiety about the rule of law in China.

"After prudent consideration, Stern Hu decided not to appeal. He made the decision after consulting his closest family and friends and us, his lawyers, as well," one of his attorneys, Jin Chunqing, told AFP.

His other attorney, Shi Keqiang, confirmed the move but declined to give any reason for Hu's decision.

"Both Jin and I met with him today and yesterday. He decided not to appeal," Shi said.

Hu, the former head of the Anglo-Australian mining firm's Shanghai office, and three Chinese colleagues were convicted of taking more than 13 million dollars in kickbacks from Chinese steel firms during tense 2009 iron ore talks and of stealing trade secrets.

During the three-day trial, the court reportedly heard evidence that millions of yuan in bribes from small Chinese steel mills were stuffed into bags and boxes for the accused.

The judge said the bribes took other forms too -- Ge accepted a watch worth more than 19,000 dollars. He said assets worth a combined 6.3 million yuan (920,000 dollars) were confiscated from the men.

Lawyers for Wang Yong, Liu Caikui and Ge Minqiang confirmed to AFP that their clients would appeal their jail sentences, which ranged from seven years for Liu to 14 years for Wang.

The Australian foreign ministry in Canberra said it respected Hu's decision.

"It has been a matter for Stern Hu and his lawyers," the ministry said in a statement.

"We respect his decision. We will continue to provide Mr Hu with all consular assistance."

Rio, which sacked the four men following the verdict, lamenting their "deplorable" behaviour, declined to comment on Hu's decision.

Rio chief executive Tom Albanese said he was "determined" not to allow the case to "prevent Rio Tinto from continuing to build its important relationship with China".

The four men were arrested last July during the contentious iron ore contract talks between top mining companies and the steel industry in China, the world's largest consumer of the raw material.

Before the global financial crisis, small private Chinese steel companies were locked out of buying iron ore from Rio because the mining giant prioritised large state-run steel companies.

When the crisis hit in September 2008, demand for iron ore plummeted and the smaller players paid bribes "to squeeze into the club and join the buyers", said Hu's lawyer Jin.

Legal authorities plan to take action against officials from Chinese steel companies who allegedly gave bribes to the four Rio executives, state media has reported.

Beijing Shougang Corp, Guofeng Iron and Steel, Laiwu Steel Group, Rizhao Steel Group, Tianjin Rongcheng Steel Group and Sinochem International were among 20 companies involved in the case.

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