Hong Kong  - A former top minister in the Chinese gambling resort of Macau already jailed for taking tens of millions of US dollars in bribes was Wednesday sentenced to a further 28-and-a-half years.

Ao Man Long, 52, former secretary for transport and public works, is already serving a 27-year jail term after being convicted last year of taking huge bribes in return for awarding public work contracts.

At the end of a second trial Wednesday, he was convicted of 23 additional counts or bribe-taking and five of money laundering in the biggest corruption case in modern Macau history.

Sentencing him in Macau's Court of Final Appeal, judge Shum Ho-fai said Ao had abused his power as a government official and that his behaviour had seriously damaged the image of the territory.

The two sentences will be served concurrently because of limitations in the Macau Penal Code which mean Ao cannot serve more than 30 years in prison.

Ao was arrested in 2006 and sentenced to 27 years in January 2008 after being found guilty of taking huge bribes as he awarded public works contracts for a series of massive casino projects.

He built up a personal fortune of 100 million US dollars as the former Portuguese colony, which reverted to Chinese rule in 1999, welcomed a series of Las Vegas-owned casinos.

Ao was found guilty of 57 out of 76 charges including corruption, money-laundering, abuse of power and making false statements at the end of his original trial.

A graduate of Taiwan University, Ao joined the Macau government in 1987 and was appointed its first secretary for transport and public works after the territory reverted to Chinese rule. (dpa)