Lenient sentences for Enron execs

Michael Kopper pleaded guilty in 2002

Two former executives at collapsed energy firm Enron have received lighter prison sentences after they helped convict the architects of the scandal.

Michael Kopper, who faced up to 15 years in jail for covering up debts at the firm, was sentenced to 37-months.

He led prosecutors to Enron's chief financial officer Andrew Fastow, which in turn led to the convictions of Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling.

Ex-head of investors relations, Michael Koenig, was jailed for 18 months.

He helped present false accounts to investors and faced up to 10 years for aiding and abetting securities fraud .

Remorse

The US energy giant went bankrupt in 2001 with debts of $31.8bn (£18bn).

Prosecutors asked Judge Ewing Werlein to drastically cut the two men's sentences because of their co-operation.

Kopper, a former manager of global finance at Enron pleaded guilty in 2002 to wire fraud and money laundering.

At his sentencing, Kopper, who gave up $12m he had gained form Enron, told the Houston courtroom: "I'm horrified that I contributed to the pain."

His evidence helped lead to Fastow being sentenced to six years in prison.

Fastow, 44, pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering in 2004 and became the chief witness in the trial against Ken Lay and Jeffrey Skilling.

His testimony helped convict former chairman Mr Lay, who died in July, and former chief executive Skilling, who is about to start a 24-year sentence.

Lay's conviction was subsequently overturned after a judge ruled that his death meant that he had had no opportunity to appeal.