Commission Against Corruption, Macao SAR

The 3 family members of the ex-Secretary for Transport and Public Works Ao Man Long faced the second trial linked to the mega-corruption case of Ao today (9^th July) at the Court of First Instance since the severe sentence meted in June. Ao Man Long's father, Ao Veng Kong, was convicted guilty of money laundering and was sentenced to an imprisonment of 3 years and 6 months. Ao Man Long¡¦s brother Ao Man Fu, and wife, Ao Chan Wa Choi, were acquitted. Tang Kim Man, a Macao construction businessman who bribed Ao Man Long, was convicted guilty of bribery and money laundering and was sentenced to an imprisonment of 12 years and 6 months. Another accused Lao Chon Hong was convicted guilty of money laundering and was sentenced to an imprisonment of 3 years and 6 months. 2 other businessmen involved in the case, Leong Chiu Tung and Lo Chi Cheong were convicted not guilty.

In sentencing, the collegiate bench pointed out that most of the crimes committed by the first accused Tang Kim Man were proved factual after listening to the testimony of a number of witnesses, including the analysis by the CCAC investigators about Ao Man Long¡¦s capital flow and transaction record, and the testimony of staffs of the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau and Infrastructure Development Office about Ao Man Long¡¦s indication of the awarding construction contracts to specific companies.

The collegial bench deemed it more appropriate to replace the penalty of fine with imprisonment, taking into consideration the severity of the offences and damage done to the SAR government. The collegial bench said that from 2000 to 2006, Tang Kim Man had bribed Ao Man Long for 15 times with over 40 million dollars and other advantages in order to obtain contracts of MOP1.7 billion. It had seriously destroyed the principle of fair competition in construction contracting and damaged the image of impartiality of the SAR government. Therefore, besides the penalty of imprisonment, all of the bribery and assets that were given or promised by Tang Kim Man to Ao Man Long had to be confiscated. This included 10% shares of the hydraulic power company, a villa in Hac Sac, a shop at Rua Fernão Mendes Pinto in Taipa. Since it was impossible to pay in the form of an object, Tang Kim Man had to pay the equivalent amount of money to the SAR government and MOP1,000 to the government treasury.

Lao Chon Hong, another accused, was also sentenced to imprisonment. The collegial bench said only part of her offences could be proved factual during trail, as a result, she was only convicted guilty of 1 count of money laundering and was sentenced to an imprisonment of 3 years and 6 months and a payment of MOP1,000 to government treasury.

Ao Man Long's family members, Ao Man Fu and Ao Chan Wa Choi were also accused of money laundering. However, since the offence involved giving bribes to perform legal acts, whose penalty was less than 3-year-imprisoment, the collegial bench according to law, acquitted the 2 accused. Ao Veng Kong's offence of money laundering involved giving bribes to perform illegal acts and he was sentenced to an imprisonment of 3 years and 6 months. His lawyer, Pedro Leal lodged for an appeal immediately after the sentencing and requested to maintain his medical treatment in the hospital and the mandatory measure of prohibition of leaving the territory.

Tang Kim Man and Lao Chon Hong were absent for trial.