Billionaire Kwok guilty of corrupting HK ex-official

Thomas Kwok, the billionaire co-chairman of Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd, was convicted of conspiring with Hong Kong's former No. 2 official to commit misconduct in public office. His younger brother, Raymond Kwok, was cleared of all charges. Thomas Kwok was found guilty of conspiring to pay HK$8.5 million ($1.1 million) to Rafael Hui from 2005 to 2007 in exchange for favourable treatment for Sun Hung Kai, the world's second-most valuable real estate company. Hui was convicted on five charges, including conspiracy to accept HK$11.18 million in bribes during the time he was Hong Kong's chief secretary and later a member of the government's advisory body. The nine-member jury deliberated for five days in Hong Kong's highest-profile graft trial, which lasted 127 days. Thomas Kwok was acquitted of two other charges. Two others were also convicted for their roles in the conspiracy.