A special assistant to Nantou County Commissioner Peng Pai-hsien (
After questioning that went on into the early hours yesterday, prosecutors requested that the court detain Peng's special assistant Wu Cheng-hsun (吳政勳), director of the county government's policy planning unit Tsai Pi-yun (蔡碧雲) and county government advisor Pai His-min (白錫旼).
The Nantou District Court approved Wu's detention but released Tsai. Pai was also released, on NT$1 million bail.
Prosecutors said there was evidence indicating the three received kickbacks and favored certain firms in handling post-quake reconstruction projects.
Meanwhile, two other county government officials in charge of affairs relating to construction bidding underwent polygraph tests yesterday. Prosecutors did not give further details.
The investigation has centered on construction bidding and the use of quake relief funds.
Prosecutors also explained to the media yesterday the mysterious "Russian logs case."
After the quake Russia donated some 3,000 tonnes of logs to Taiwan for reconstruction. The Executive Yuan then gave 2,700 tonnes of these logs to Nantou County.
But most of these logs went missing, divisional head prosecutor at Nantou District Prosecutors' Office Hsu Sung-kuei (
He said county officials had different versions where the logs went, but so far only 30 percent of the logs have been found -- in a search the day before yesterday in Changhua (彰化). The expense of processing these logs also mystified prosecutors.
Hsu said signed county government documents show the price for processing the logs was around NT$7 million. "But the money actually paid out was more than NT$22 million," he said, adding the whereabouts of the money was being investigated.
He said even the logs found in Changhua needed further examination before it could be proved that they were the mystery Russian logs.
At an interpellation session at the county council yesterday morning, the claims of corruption were discussed by councilors.
Many councilors attacked Peng's administration, but Peng insisted he and his staff were innocent and claimed "there is political intervention in the investigation."
The independent commissioner was once a close associate of President Chen Shui-bian (
But Peng withdrew from the DPP in 1997 when he decided to run for the post of commissioner even though he wasn't nominated by the party. He won the election.
ANNOUNCEMENT: People who do not comply with the ban after a spoken warning would be reported to the police, the airport company said on Friday Taoyuan International Airport Corp on Friday announced that riding on vehicles, including scooter-suitcases (also known as “scootcases”), bicycles, scooters and skateboards, is prohibited in the airport’s terminals. Those using such vehicles should manually pull them or place them on luggage trolleys, the company said in a Facebook post. The ban intends to maintain order and protect travelers’ safety, as the airport often sees large crowds of people, it said, adding that it has stepped up publicity for the regulation, and those who do not comply after a spoken warning would be reported to the police. The company yesterday said that
NEW YEAR’S ADDRESS: ‘No matter what threats and challenges Taiwan faces, democracy is the only path,’ William Lai said, urging progress ‘without looking back’ President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday urged parties across the political divide to democratically resolve conflicts that have plagued domestic politics within Taiwan’s constitutional system. In his first New Year’s Day address since becoming president on May 20 last year, Lai touched on several issues, including economic and security challenges, but a key emphasis was on the partisan wrangling that has characterized his first seven months in office. Taiwan has transformed from authoritarianism into today’s democracy and that democracy is the future, Lai said. “No matter what threats and challenges Taiwan faces, democracy is the only path for Taiwan,” he said. “The only choice
QUIET START: Nearly a week after applications opened, agencies did not announce or promote the program, nor did they explain how it differed from other visitor visas Taiwan has launched a six-month “digital nomad visitor visa” program for foreign nationals from its list of visa-exempt countries who meet financial eligibility criteria and provide proof of work contracts. To apply, foreign nationals must either provide proof that they have obtained a digital nomad visa issued by another country or demonstrate earnings based on age brackets, the Bureau of Consular Affairs said. Applicants aged 20 to 29 must show they earned an annual salary of at least US$20,000 or its equivalent in one of the past two years, while those aged 30 or older must provide proof they earned US$40,000 in
TECH CORRIDOR: Technology centers and science parks in the south would be linked, bolstering the AI, semiconductor, biotech, drone, space and smart agriculture industries The Executive Yuan yesterday approved a “Southern Silicon Valley” project to promote the development of an artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor industry in Chiayi County, Tainan, Pingtung County and Kaohsiung. The plan would build an integrated “S-shaped semiconductor industry corridor” that links technology centers and science parks in the south, Executive Yuan spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said yesterday after a Cabinet meeting. The project would bolster the AI, semiconductor, biotech, drone, space and smart agriculture industries, she said. The proposed tech corridor would be supported by government efforts to furnish computing power, workforce, supply chains and policy measures that encourage application and integration
RSS