A former Wal-Mart executive has been sentenced to only home confinement after stealing half a million dollars from the world's largest retailer.

Tom Coughlin, former Vice Chairman for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will only serve 27 months of home confinement, despite facing up to 28 years in jail for his crimes.

Coughlin tells reporters, "There is no excuse for my conduct. I feel compelled to apologize to my extended Wal-Mart family."

According to CNN, his doctor, Joel Carver, had testified earlier on Friday that the 57-year-old was too "fragile" for prison, suffering from diabetes, cardiac disease, sleep apnea, arterial blockage, and other ailments. Coughlin was treated for arterial blockage in 2003.

Judge Robert Dawson declined to send the criminal to jail, giving him instead home confinement, five years of probation, and restitution set at around $411,000.

A statement from Wal-Mart says, "Our company's actions throughout this process have been consistent with our core values and the principle that all (employees) are held accountable to the same standard, regardless of their position."