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. 'The importance of proper electoral practices is vital to safeguard the integrity of the poll . . . but that integrity is undermined by the practices that you were engaged in. 'You were influential and powerful in your industry. But driven by your own vanity, you wielded your power to influence people and to achieve the result.' Yesterday's conviction makes Chim the first person to be convicted of these particular graft crimes since the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Ordinance was launched in 1955. The dinner, held at a Wan Chai restaurant on March 27 last year, cost $60,000 and was attended by 100 eligible voters. It was paid for by the Financial Services Association Limited founded by Chim and run by his son, Chim Kim-lun. At the dinner Chim Pui-chung handed out a list containing the names of 14 out of 25 candidates competing for 12 seats in the financial services subsector elections. The word 'recommended' was written next to 11. Guests were asked to choose one of the remaining three. The subsector helped elect people to the 800-member Election Committee, which in turn chose 10 legislators. Mr Mackintosh said: 'The dinner, which cost $600 per head, was treating on a significant scale. 'It was far more than merely providing refreshment.' He did not accept Chim's claim the dinner was a seminar. Alan Hoo, SC, defending, told the court his client maintained his innocence and would seek an appeal, because the dinner was just a trade gathering. Chim was fined $75,000 for treating and $25,000 for failing to obtain written authorisation to incur expenses. He was released from prison on June 16 after serving 191 days for conspiracy to forge share transfer documents. That conviction led to his dismissal as a legislator representing the Legislative Council financial services functional constituency in September last year. THE DINNER MENU Appetiser combination: jellyfish and deep-fried prawn balls Stewed superior shark's fin in broth Stewed abalone with fish maw Deep-fried sliced pomfret fish Mashed taro with duck Sauteed red spinach with garlic Steamed taro rice Chiu Chow deep-fried sweet buns with mashed yam and peanuts Fresh fruit 18 bottles of red wine Total $60,000