Hong Kong media tycoon Lam Por Yen (
Lam, former chairman of Asia Television Ltd and chairman of the Lai Sun Group, was given a two-year prison sentence for bribery but was acquitted of money laundering. He was previously sentenced to three years and two months in prison on the two charges by the Taipei District Court last February.
Lam, who left Taiwan on a bail of NT$40 million following the February ruling, did not attend court yesterday.
On the charge of bribery, the High Court reasoned Lam's sentence should be reduced on the grounds that he had made a full confession.
To encourage disclosure of public corruption, anyone convicted of giving bribes to a public official may have their punishment reduced if they confess during investigations or a trial.
Also, Chuang Yu-kun (
Having been detained for over three years, Chuang made another request for bail in court yesterday, but was again refused. He said he will appeal again.
The court found Lam guilty of bribing Chuang in exchange for preferential treatment in a land deal on an aborted construction scheme at Taipei University in Sanhsia (
In addition to being convicted of malfeasance for accepting the bribe from Lam, Chuang was also found guilty of taking bribes from land owners who had sought Chuang's favor in approving the zoning of their land in Sanchih (
With his close connections to politicians and businessmen in Hong Kong and Taiwan, Lam's case made headlines in both places when it broke in December 1997.
Lam was arrested by police at CKS airport after coming to Taiwan from Hong Kong for the Golden Horse movie awards.
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