--克利夫蘭市議員受賄500美元被從輕判刑入獄18個月

中國大陸網友請不要揉眼睛、懷疑這條新聞、也不要懷疑這一數字：五百美元:

我就在美國俄亥俄州克利夫蘭東郊居住、工作，看了此事的電視、報刊新聞。

事情經過大致如下：

羅倍特.萊特（Robert White）原為克利夫蘭市議員。他幫一企業恢復供電，收了人家給的500美元，因為克利夫蘭市政府擁有那家發電廠。2008年3月美國聯邦調查局開始查處羅倍特的受賄案。2009年3月13日美國聯邦地區法官丹.普爾斯特（Dan Polster）判處羅倍特.萊特服刑18個月。法官普爾斯特並警告羅倍特.萊特說他違背了公眾對他的信任（violated his public trust）。

法官的這一決定還是從輕判決：因為按法律羅倍特.萊特的受賄罪可以判處監禁18至24個月。從輕的理由有二：一是這是羅倍特.萊特的首犯；二是羅倍特.萊特的妻子患有重病、需人常照料。

報道說羅倍特.萊特一開始就配合美國聯邦調查局的調查，對自己的受賄罪供認不諱，並已在此前辭去市議員任職。

羅倍特.萊特已於今年產5月15日在監獄服刑。

英文原版報道鏈接及全文如下：

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/03/former_councilman_gets_18_mont.html

Former Cleveland Councilman Robert White gets 18 months in prison for taking $500 bribe

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Peter Krouse

Plain Dealer Reporter

Disgraced former Cleveland Councilman Robert White will have to serve 18 months in prison for taking a $500 bribe from a businessman in 2007.

U.S. District Judge Dan Polster on Friday sentenced White at the low end of federal guidelines, which called for a prison term of between 18 and 24 months. The judge noted it was White's first offense. He also considered the health of White's wife.

The councilman's wife needs regular care, White's attorney Edward LaRue said after the hearing. He did not elaborate on her specific illness.

Polster admonished White for his crime, saying he vio lated his public trust, victimizing "all of us whose trust is now a little bit less," as well as other public offi cials who are tainted as a result.

White, who had more than 20 supporters in the courtroom, apologized for his actions. He pleaded guilty in December to one count of bribery.

The FBI approached White in March 2008 with evidence of the bribe. LaRue said his client cooperated with investigators from the beginning and sought legal help only when it was clear he was going to be charged with a crime.

"He's made no qualification or justification for his actions," LaRue said.

White took a bribe from an unidentified businessman in exchange for helping him get Cleveland Public Power to restore electricity to his establishment. The city owns the power company, which provides electricity to about one-third of the city.

White had represented Ward 2, which includes the Union-Miles and Turney neighborhoods in southeast Cleveland, since being appointed in 1996 to replace Earle B. Turner.

White must report to prison and begin serving his sentence by May 15.