Flamboyant financier and former legislator Chim Pui-chung was found guilty of two election corruption charges yesterday but was spared a return to jail.
Chim, 52, who was convicted of illegally treating voters to a dinner and failing to obtain written authorisation to incur expenses, was fined $100,000 and ordered to pay $20,000 costs. He had denied the charges.
Magistrate Colin Mackintosh said Chim had been 'driven by his own vanity' and wielded his power to influence others.
But, as Chim had a clear record at the time of the offence, jail would not be appropriate.
Mr Mackintosh described the maximum fine of $100,000 for treating voters as derisory and said he would have fined Chim more if he could.
'You were then an experienced legislator who must have known the rules and conduct of the Electoral Ordinance,' Mr Mackintosh told Chim at Eastern Court.