Former banking chief Ewan Launder, convicted of accepting a $4.5 million bribe, is no longer a wealthy man and will have to return to work when released, a judge heard yesterday.
Alexander King, defending, urged the judge not to send Launder to jail, and told of the devastating effect the many stressful years waiting for the trial had had on his life.
Launder, 64, former chief executive of Wardley Ltd, was convicted on Saturday, 20 years after committing the crime and 11 after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
'He is, at this stage, no longer a wealthy man. He is someone who, when this matter is over, will have to go back to work, however unpleasant that is at his age,' Mr King told the judge.
The financial business Launder started after leaving Wardley had once been worth between US$13 million (HK$101 million) and US$15 million.
But while fighting extradition in Britain, Launder had not been allowed to travel and the business was now 'non-operational'.
The stress and anxiety of the prolonged criminal proceedings had also contributed to the break-up of his marriage.
