Macau's biggest ever corruption trial ended yesterday with prosecutors calling for a guilty verdict for a former top government minister accused of taking tens of millions o

f dollars in kickbacks.

Ao Man-long, a former transport and public works secretary, was arrested a year ago and faced 76 counts of taking bribes, money laundering and abusing power to help property developers win lucrative construction tenders.

Ao has denied the charges, saying he did nothing wrong. He is the highest official ever charged with corruption in the former Portuguese enclave.

In a four-month investigation, anti-graft officials said they uncovered assets worth about 800 million patacas (HK$780 million), or 57 times more than Ao's family income over his seven-year term.

Due to his seniority, Ao was tried by a three-judge panel at the Court of Final Appeal, Macau's highest court.

No date has been set for a verdict, Ao's lawyer Nuno Simoes said. If convicted, Ao could face up to 25 years in jail.

Prosecutors also called for the millions of dollars in alleged bribes to be confiscated.

At the start of his hearing, Ao was willing to answer questions from prosecutors, including saying he felt deeply sad and sorry for the trouble he had caused.

But he told the court he would not talk anymore after he alleged that only his boss - Macau's Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah - approved the contracts which are worth millions.

This resulted in Ho hinting he will testify if required to under the law.

"If this is what the law requires, will fulfill my responsibilities," Ho said after his annual policy address in November.

"As chief executive, I cannot go against the law."

But he only smiled when asked by The Standard to further clarify his position.

During the trial some witnesses went "missing," including one key witness and two from neighboring Hong Kong.

Others among the 26 witnesses are facing trial themselves and were allowed to refuse to testify.

Macau, located about 60 kilometers west of Hong Kong, is the only place in China where casino gambling is legal.

It has attracted several top US casino operators over past few years and last year raked in more gaming revenue than the Las Vegas strip. ASSOCIATED PRESS