MACAU : Macau's former Secretary for Transport and Public Works has been sentenced to 27 years' jail for taking bribes, money laundering and abuse of power.

Ao Man-Long is Macau's highest official to be convicted of graft in the Chinese gambling enclave.

Aside from the jail term, Ao is also fined US$30,000 and will have all his illegally-acquired assets confiscated, including his property in London.

As a minister, his trial was held at first instance in the territory's highest court, from which there is no appeal.

In passing sentence, the court said Ao's shocking behaviour had damaged Macau's image abroad.

During the month-long trial, prosecutors portrayed Ao as a bully who demanded kick-backs for awarding contracts, and many were afraid to cross him because of his influence.

Ao's alleged partner-in-crime stated in court that such kickbacks were considered common practice, and not considered bribery in the industry.

Ao was arrested in December, having amassed assets more than 57 times he and his wife could ever earn in a seven-year period from 1999 to 2006.

Only about a third his US$100 million fortune was eventually accounted for.

His downfall is a cautionary tale of the construction boom that transformed this once sleepy enclave into the world's gambling capital.

"I think it's hard to believe that only one official is related to a corruption case that's so big. It's also permitted by higher ranking officials. And more than one year ago before the Ao Man-Long case, it was disclosed by Macau's Corruption Office that some other cases, particularly land leasing cases, that hasn't come to trial," said Macau legislator Antonio Ng.

Macau's opaque land leasing system has been widely criticised where Ao was in a position to award developers land at rates as low as 10 percent of market value.

The Chinese central government has since sent a clear signal by not permitting further reclamation of land for the time being.

"In June 2006, the local government raised a proposal for more land to fill, but up to now, the central government has not agreed to it. That means the central government has already stop chances of interest (transfer)," said Ng.

Meantime, Ao's family members, including his father, brother and sister-in-law are also facing money laundering charges and their trials are likely to run till March. - CNA /ls