No more witnesses in Ao's saga

No more witnesses in Ao's saga

The trial for the former secretary for transport and public works Ao Man Long reached a crucial stage yesterday, after all 95 witnesses had been heard and closing statements were scheduled for the morning of March 18 at the Court of Final Appeal.

In yesterday's sessions, several chief-investigators from the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) took the witness stand to go through every detail in the investigation, particularly the 23 construction works in which Ao is accused of corruption.

The defendants, in other cases related to Ao's case, Pedro Chian and Chan Lin Yan were allegedly responsible for the quotations that the former secretary approved in exchange for bribes.

The CCAC investigators referred to various documents, such as personal agendas, bank statements, restaurant booking receipts and Hong Kong travels lists presented in a timetable showing requests to the government and rewards after those requests were approved.

According to the investigators, Ao met with either Pedro Chiang or Chan Lin Yan, just before or right after the opening of the tenders on the construction works in question. In addition, several bank statements showing several million patacas transferred to Ecoline accounts, a company based in British Virgin Islands, controlled by the former secretary were produced.

The CCAC investigators also found several blueprints from La Cite complex, the new Customs Services building and Tap Seac construction works with dates prior to the opening of tender.

Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Macau Daily Times