HK former chief secretary sentenced to 7.5 years for graft

Former Hong Kong Chief Secretary Rafael Hui, arrives at the Eastern Court in Hong Kong Friday, July 13, 2012. [Photo/IC]

HONG KONG - Hong Kong's former chief secretary Rafael Hui was sentenced by the High Court to seven and a half years for corruption and misconduct convictions on Tuesday.

Hui was convicted of five counts of misconduct and corruption, making him the highest-ranking official in Hong Kong's history to be convicted of taking bribes.

Each count carries a maximum prison term of seven years, as well as a fine.

Sun Hung Kai Properties tycoon Thomas Kwok was sentenced to five years and fined 500,000 HK dollars as he was found guilty of paying Hui 8.5 million HK dollars in bribes.

Hui, born in 1948, is a former chief secretary for administration of Hong Kong and a former career civil servant. He was arrested in March 2012 by the Independent Commission Against Corruption on suspicion of corruption.