TAIPEI, Nov 28, 2007 (AFP) - A former Taiwanese financial regulator was sentenced to 16 years in jail Wednesday for taking bribes and leaking confidential information in a high profile graft scandal, a court spokesman said.

"The court found Lin Chung-cheng guilty in two counts of bribery taking and two counts of disclosing confidential information that he had access to," Liu Sung-shou, spokesman with the Taipei District Court said.

Liu was also fined five million Taiwan dollars (154,799 US).

Lin was indicated in February for taking kickbacks and other favours from privately-run financial institutions in influence-peddling when serving as commissioner of the Financial Supervisory Commission.

His assistant Su Chun-chi was sentenced to two years in prison but put on a three year probation due to fragile health conditions.

Tsui Mei-lan, a legal adviser of China Development Financial Holding Corp, drew a 15-month jail term for bribing.