MACAU A former government minister in Macau who took millions of pounds in bribes from property developers has been sent to prison for 27 years.

Ao Man-long had amassed a personal fortune of 800 million patacas (£50 million) and owned several homes when he was arrested in December 2006. The judge, Sam Hou Fai, said during his ruling at the Court of Final Appeal that Ao had turned his job into a “money-making machine”.

Macau is the only region of China in which gambling is legal, and property deals became lucrative after control was handed over by Portugal of its former colony in 1999. The biggest single bribe, of £10million, was allegedly made by Ho Meng-fai, of San Meng Fai Engineering and Construction, which was contracted to build the StarWorld casino hotel.

People close to the deals received lavish gifts to remain silent - a female legal consultant was given two Tiffany diamond rings, an Omega watch and a gold necklace.

Meticulous records of Ao's wealth were found in his bedroom. The judge ordered assets worth about £16million to be seized, and some of his properties to be confiscated. A lawyer for Ao said that he was likely to lodge an appeal against the sentence.

Three businessmen who face a separate trial, including Ho, are on the run and Ao's wife and father are also accused. The owners of the StarWorld casino hotel were not involved in the case. (AP,AFP)

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