The lawyer for businesswoman Lily Chiang, who faces up to seven years in jail on fraud charges, made a plea for leniency for his client on Friday.

At Friday's mitigation hearing, more than 40 letters attesting to Chiang's good works and character were filed on her behalf.

Her lawyer, Adrian Bell, said he will present "all the best qualities" of Lily Chiang.

He described Chiang as a successful, hardworking businesswoman, generous to charities with her time, and money.

She helps the disadvantaged as well as young people, the lawyer said.

He asked the judge to take into account that Chiang is "a person of good character" with no previous conviction.

He also noted that Chiang has a long medical history and is not in the best of health.

A number of respected names appeared on the mitigation letters, including Nobel Prize winner Charles Kuen Kao, former president of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Paul Chu, President of the Lingnan University Chan Yuk-Shee, former vice-chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong Ambrose King, former lawmaker and chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce James Tien, and Chairwoman of the Liberal Party Miriam Lau Kin-yee.

In the letter written in 2008, Kao praised Chiang's success in business and her many contributions to the Chinese University.

Paul Chu said Chiang had "followed her father's footsteps" in her commitment to charity.

Lily Chiang's father is famous industrialist Chiang Chen.

She has been donating her money to help students in the development of science and technology in Hong Kong, Chu said.

Chu noted Chiang's charity work has extended internationally to Pakistan, Iraq, and to African countries.

Chiang's husband Gino Yu also pleaded for leniency for his wife.

In the letter, he pointed out that Chiang is the mother of four young children with the youngest only 2 years old.

Yu said his wife is a good mother, with high family values, and that she always makes time for the children.

Yu said he comes from a broken family thus he knows clearly the damage of losing mother at a young age.

Hearing her husband's mitigation letter, Chiang, sitting behind the bar and wearing a mask, looked down and cried.

He said it's the "most difficult time" for the family.

"When our daughters ask about their mother," he paused, shrugged his shoulders, "how can you answer?"

Yu then left the court with red, watery eyes.

Chiang's older sister Agnes Chiang Lei-ping, a former singer, said her "heart was bleeding" as she heard the verdict read out over three days.

She said Chiang had helped the families to overcome the 2008 international financial crisis.

Chiang's ex-colleagues and friends also spoke well of her.

A Roman Catholic priest said Chiang donated money to help him to build schools in Tibet.

He said Chiang is "honest, helpful, enthusiastic".

Chiang's former driver described Chiang as "honest, hardworking, friendly, responsible".

He said he has learned guidance for both life and work from Chiang.

She also encouraged the ex-employee to pursue a better career, the driver said.

District Court Judge Albert Wong will hand down sentence next week.

China Daily

(HK Edition 06/11/2011 page1)