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Former Wal-Mart vice chairman sentenced

12/08/2006

A former Wal-Mart vice chairman has been sentenced to 27 months home detention after pleading guilty to theft.

Thomas Coughlin, 57, admitted stealing money, merchandise and gift cards from the store. He has been ordered to pay a $50,000 (£25,000) fine, and pay back around $411,000 (£205,000) to both the store and the Internal Revenue Service.

According to the Associated Press news agency, Coughlin started off at the company as a theft prevention chief. The thefts of money and company property he has admitted to were comparatively petty in relation to the salary he was being paid by the company.

"There is no excuse for my conduct," he said at yesterday's hearing. "I feel compelled to apologise to my extended Wal-Mart family."

Coughlin's poor health kept the 57-year-old from serving time in prison after the judge, Robert Dawson, agreed with a medical testimony.

Doctor Joel Carver testified that Coughlin suffered from cardiac disease and diabetes amongst other ailments.

The judge also told the court that the accused had already paid a high price from the publicity surrounding the case and could face further repercussions by losing his retirement benefits.

Wal-Mart, which owns British supermarket chain Asda, has launched a civil suit to recover the ex-vice chairman's retirement benefits.

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