Jury Out In Corruption Trial Of Hong Kong Ex-leader

HONG KONG, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Feb, 2017 ) - Hong Kong's former leader Donald Tsang will soon learn his fate as the jury in his high-profile corruption trial began deliberating Thursday.

Tsang, 72, held the leadership post of chief executive for seven years from 2005 and is the highest-ranking Hong Kong official to face a corruption trial. It comes at a time when residents are losing faith in Hong Kong's leaders, as a string of high-profile corruption cases fuel public suspicions over cosy links between authorities and business leaders.

Tsang has pleaded not guilty to three charges of misconduct and bribery while he was in office.

Each carries a maximum jail sentence of seven years. The allegations are linked to a failure to disclose his plans to lease a luxury flat in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen from a major investor in a broadcaster -- which at the time was seeking a licence from the Hong Kong government.

Tsang is accused of approving the company's application for the licence. Another of the investor's companies also paid for a refurbishment of the flat, prosecutors said, including a gym, tea room and calligraphy room. In addition, Tsang failed to declare that an architect he proposed for a government award had been employed as an interior designer on the flat.