Hong Kong’s former Chief Executive Donald Tsang has been sentenced to 20 months in prison on February 21 after he was found guilty of misconduct.
Tsang was found guilty of failing to disclose his plans to lease a luxury flat from a major investor in a broadcaster that was seeking a licence to operate in Hong Kong.
The judge told the court that Tsang had ‘deliberately concealed’ negotiations.
Tsang, 72 was head of the Hong Kong government for seven years from 2005.
He was sentenced to 20 months in prison following a six-week-long trial at Hong Kong ‘s High Court.
Tsang was charged with one count of misconduct, acquitted of a second and the jury failed to decide on a third, which accused him of accepting a bribe as a Chief Executive.
A retrial on the third count has been scheduled for September.
Each count of misconduct has a maximum sentence of seven years.
During the trial, Tsang was accused by the prosecution of using his public position to make connections with businessmen for personal gain.
While the defense said that he had given 45 years of dedicated service to Hong Kong and had no reason to accept bribes that would ruin his career.
Upon delivering the sentence, judge Andrew Chan said: ‘Never in my judicial career have I seen a man fallen from so high.’
His conviction makes him the most senior official in Hong Kong to be convicted in a criminal trial.
Tsang’s family were in court to hear the sentencing. His wife and two sons looked upset as they exited the court house.
His wife Selina told reporters: ‘Today is a very dark day. My family and I feel very disappointed and sad regarding today’s decision by the court.
Residents in Hong Kong are becoming frustrated with Hong Kong’s leaders after a string of high-profile corruption cases.
Current Leader Leung Chun-ying faces allegations of corruption after it was reported he received a payment of HK$50 million (£5.1 million) from an Australian engineering firm before he took office.
February 2010: Tsang starts negotiating the lease of his apartment in mainland China with a shareholder of a broadcasting company wishing to enter the Hong Kong market. July 2010: HK$300,000 (£31,000) is deposited into the bank account of Donald Tsang’s wife. November 2010: The licence for the broadcasting company is approved. Shortly after, another HK$800,000 (£82,000) is deposited into the bank account of Donald Tsang’s wife. 2011: A contract is signed with an interior designer to refurbish Tsang’s flat. The interior designer is later nominated for an award which was suggested and approved by Tsang. February 2012: The Independent Commission Against Corruption launches an investigation into Tsang. June 2012: Donald Tsang finishes his second term in office2015: He is charged with two counts of misconduct in public officeJanuary 2017: He appears in court on two counts of misconduct and one count of briberyFebruary 2017: Tsang is charged with one count of misconduct while another count is quashed. The count of bribery is undecided by the jury and a retrial date is set for September. The former Chief Executive is sentenced to 20 months in prison.
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