SOLICITOR Oscar Lai Ka-to, 57, who is serving a seven-year jail sentence for bribing disgraced government lawyer Warwick Reid, was yesterday given bail pending his appeal against sentence and conviction.
In a brief chambers hearing before Mr Justice Bokhary, Lai's London silk, Richard Ferguson QC, successfully submitted that by the time the appeal was dealt with next year, Lai would have served most of his sentence after allowing for one-third remissionfor good behaviour.
The terms of bail are $1 million cash, $2 million in his own recognisance and three sureties totalling $5 million.
Lai also had to surrender his travel documents.
Lai, who spent 15 months in jail before getting bail during the trial and another 15 months after being convicted, was not in court to hear the finding.
Today, Mr Ferguson will ask the Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Bokhary, for leave to adduce additional evidence for the appeal, which is set down for eight weeks from next March.