Yunlin County Commissioner Su Chih-fen (蘇治芬) and Yunlin County Council Deputy Speaker Shen Tsung-lung (沈宗隆) were indicted on corruption charges yesterday, with prosecutors asking for a 15-year jail sentence for Su and 13 years for Shen.
Prosecutors also suggested Su be deprived of her civil rights for eight years and be required to pay back the NT$21 million (US$636,000) she is alleged to have taken in bribes in two separate cases. They suggested Shen lose his civil rights for eight years and that he be required to pay back NT$16 million.
Following the indictments, the Yunlin District Court began a hearing to decide whether to release Su or continue to detain her.
At press time yesterday, the hearing was continuing and Su was in the court awaiting the judges’ decision.
She did not respond to reporters when asked to comment on her indictment.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said Su’s indictment would not affect its decision on Thursday to name her as a candidate for next year’s Yunlin County commissioner’s election.
Su was taken to the prosecutors’ office yesterday from St. Joseph’s Hospital in Huwei Township (虎尾), where she was taken on Wednesday night for treatment after going on hunger strike shortly after her detention on Nov. 3.
Su was escorted to the prosecutors’ office by court guards and medical staff.
Prosecutors alleged that she accepted bribes worth NT$5 million from a construction company in return for waiving the environmental impact assessment of a landfill construction project so the contractor could complete the project as quickly as possible.
Prosecutors alleged Su also accepted NT$16 million in bribes from the contractor that built the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Yunlin.
Shen was alleged to have accepted part of the bribe money from Su in return for helping her.
Meanwhile, Chiayi County Commissioner Chen Ming-wen (陳明文) continued his hunger strike yesterday to protest against his detention for suspected corruption.
DPP caucus whip Chang Hua-kuan (張花冠) said DPP legislators would visit Chen at the Chiayi Detention Center today in a show of support.
“A hunger strike is the humblest, yet the most severe form of protest,” Chang told a press conference at DPP caucus office yesterday morning. “He [Chen Ming-wen] would only have begun one because he felt desperate.”
Chang talked about Su and Chen Ming-wen, but refused to comment on former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) fast, saying his case was “a lot more complicated.”
“In Chen Ming-wen’s case, prosecutors have not questioned him or released him. It is not right to keep somebody in jail if you cannot prove their guilt,” Chang said.
Chen Ming-wen’s wife Liao Su-hui (廖素惠) submitted a petition to the Chiayi District Prosecutors’ Office yesterday requesting prosecutors speed up their investigation or release her husband.
Office spokesman Wang Chuan-cheng (王全成) said the case was a priority.
Liao’s petition asked prosecutors to allow her husband to have visitors because his family was worried about his health and would like to see him to make sure he was well.
“I will forward Liao’s request to the prosecutors concerned and ask them to consider it,” Wang said.
Taiwan last night blanked world No. 1 Japan 4-0 to win the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time. Taiwanese ace Lin Yu-min (林昱珉) held defending champions Japan to just one hit and no runs in the first four innings, before catcher Lin Chia-cheng (林家正) opened the fifth inning with a solo home run. That was soon followed by a three-run homer from Taiwanese captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) to put Taiwan ahead in the prestigious tournament of the world’s top 12 baseball teams. In addition to a superb performance from 21-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Lin, three more Taiwanese pitchers
SUPPORT: Arms sales to NATO Plus countries such as Japan, South Korea and Israel only have to be approved by the US Congress if they exceed US$25m The US should amend a law to add Taiwan to the list of “NATO Plus” allies and streamline future arms sales, a US commission said on Tuesday in its annual report to the US Congress. The recommendation was made in the annual report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), which contained chapters on US-China economic and trade ties, security relations, and Taiwan and Hong Kong. In the chapter on Taiwan, the commission urged the US Congress to “amend the Arms Export Control Act of 1976 to include Taiwan on the list of ‘NATO Plus’ recipients,” referring to
Taiwan yesterday advanced to the gold medal match of the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time in history, despite last night losing 9-6 to Japan. Taiwan advanced after the US defeated Venezuela in the first game on the last day of the Super Round. However, the US had no chance of advancing to the championship game unless it defeated Venezuela by at least nine points. The US won 6-5. As a result, the two teams — who both had one win and two losses in the Super Round — are to face off again in the
Minister of Labor Ho Pei-shan (何佩珊) said she would tender her resignation following criticism of her handling of alleged bullying by Ministry of Labor Workforce Development Agency branch director Hsieh Yi-jung (謝宜容) resulting in the death of an employee. The ministry yesterday gave Hsieh two demerits and said she is subject to review by the Disciplinary Court. The severest possible punishment would be her removal from office and being barred from government jobs indefinitely. Workforce Development Agency Director-General Tsai Meng-liang (蔡孟良) also received a major demerit and was transferred to another position. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) issued a formal apology
RSS