Published: 10:14PM BST 13 Aug 2010

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/7945202/Hollywood-executives-jailed-for-Thai-film-festival-bribery.html

Two married Hollywood movie executives have been jailed for six months in Los Angeles for bribing Thai officials so they could run the Bangkok International Film Festival.

Gerald Green, 78, and Patricia Green 55, were sentenced to prison despite a supportive letter to the court from the veteran film star Kirk Douglas.

Mr Douglas said the couple “were extremely honest and fair in all of their dealings with me.”

The Greens were convicted of conspiracy and money laundering after a jury found they had paid a former Thai tourism official $1.8 million (£1.1 million) to secure the film festival rights, and other tourism-related deals, between 2002 and 2007.

The deals were said to have earned them more than $13 million (£8 million.)

Prosecutors said they created shell companies to pay off Juthamas Siriwan, former governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

They then transferred money into bank accounts of Juthamas’ daughter and a friend so they would be awarded business contracts.

Juthamas has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged in Thailand. She and her daughter have been charged with conspiracy in Los Angeles.

The Greens helped transform the Bangkok Film Festival, attracting stars including Jeremy Irons and director Oliver Stone to Thailand for the event.

Gerald Green’s career in Hollywood spans more than 30 years. He worked with Stone on the Oscar-nominated “Salvador” and was executive producer on the 2006 film “Rescue Dawn” which starred Christian Bale.

Patricia Green produced the 1999 comedy “Diamonds” starring Kirk Douglas and Lauren Bacall.

The Greens were also ordered to serve six months of home detention after their jail sentence and pay $250,000 (£150,000.)