The former chief editor of Hong Kong-based magazine, East Week, has been sentenced to five months in jail for publishing a topless actress
Carina Lau in 2002.
Lau's photo which was taken in 1990, was splashed across the cover of the October 30 issue of the magazine.
The actress revealed that she was kidnapped by triad members and photographed naked after she refused a film offer. There were rumours that Lau was also assaulted and raped. She was later released unharmed.
The defendant, 52-year-old Mong Hon-Ming, received a six-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty last December. However, Hong Kong's Court of Appeal ruled on Tuesday that the original magistrate had been misled and the sentence was too lenient.
The case sparked a huge uproar in Hong Kong with hundreds of celebrities taking to the streets, condemning the magazine and demanding that the media show greater respect for people's privacy.
East Week issued apologies in various newspapers and was forced to fold in November 2002.
In March 2003, Hong Kong police arrested 11 management officials at East Week, including Mong, and launched investigation into the topless photograph.