Legislators and representatives of civic groups yesterday berated the judiciary for what they said was six years of inaction over a corruption case involving Taitung County Commissioner Huang Chien-ting (黃健庭).
Huang was charged with corruption in 2008, when he was a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator.
He allegedly received bribes and kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies for helping secure drug supply contracts for public hospitals and clinics in Taitung County. Six years on, the remains in the preliminary stages in court, and Huang is running for re-election as county commissioner.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
Taiwan Society president Chang Yen-hsien (張炎憲) told a news conference in Taipei that there were very unusual and suspicious circumstances surrounding Huang’s case, since the judiciary has not moved against him.
“It is a miscarriage of justice, because the judiciary appears to be showing favoritism to Huang, a KMT member,” Chang said.
“Who is manipulating our judiciary system behind the scenes?” Chang said, adding that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and National Security Council Secretary-General King Pu-tsung (金溥聰), a long-time top aide to Ma, might be responsible.
“Ma and King have the power to manipulate the judiciary. They have interfered to protect their political ally, Huang. It is very worrying to see such abuse of political power,” Chang said.
“How can people trust the judicial system? People see it becoming an instrument to protect KMT politicians and officials. By stalling legal proceeding, people affiliated with the KMT can escape prosecution and can get away with their pervasive corruption and profiteering actions,” he said.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Wu Ping-jui (吳秉叡) said the initial stage of most cases is wrapped up in 16 months.
“Why is this corruption case against Huang now in its sixth year? Why has there been no progress? Wu said.
Huang served out his term as legislator, was able to win election as Taitung County commissioner and is now running for a second term, which means “all Taitung residents could be losers in this affair because they might be voting for someone who could be found guilty of corruption,” Wu said.
DPP Legislator Wu Yi-chen (吳宜臻) criticized the judicial system for meting out different treatment based on political party affiliations.
“We keep on seeing the judiciary taking a delayed approach or no action when dealing with cases involving KMT and pan-blue camp people. However, the judiciary always moves swiftly in cases involving the DPP and the pan-green camp,” Wu said.
“The judicial system is showing its double standards and favoritism in this case. It has taken no action, no legal proceedings against Huang, although there is enough evidence against him. The judiciary is treating people of Taitung as fools,” she said.
Wu said it was obvious there has been a political pressure on judges against moving on this case.
“We see the KMT leaders subverting and destroying Taiwan’s judicial system. How long can the judiciary remain a tool of the KMT? The public will no longer have faith in the fairness and equality of our justice system,” she said.
A Chinese freighter that allegedly snapped an undersea cable linking Taiwan proper to Penghu County is suspected of being owned by a Chinese state-run company and had docked at the ports of Kaohsiung and Keelung for three months using different names. On Tuesday last week, the Togo-flagged freighter Hong Tai 58 (宏泰58號) and its Chinese crew were detained after the Taipei-Penghu No. 3 submarine cable was severed. When the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) first attempted to detain the ship on grounds of possible sabotage, its crew said the ship’s name was Hong Tai 168, although the Automatic Identification System (AIS)
An Akizuki-class destroyer last month made the first-ever solo transit of a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ship through the Taiwan Strait, Japanese government officials with knowledge of the matter said yesterday. The JS Akizuki carried out a north-to-south transit through the Taiwan Strait on Feb. 5 as it sailed to the South China Sea to participate in a joint exercise with US, Australian and Philippine forces that day. The Japanese destroyer JS Sazanami in September last year made the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s first-ever transit through the Taiwan Strait, but it was joined by vessels from New Zealand and Australia,
SECURITY: The purpose for giving Hong Kong and Macau residents more lenient paths to permanent residency no longer applies due to China’s policies, a source said The government is considering removing an optional path to citizenship for residents from Hong Kong and Macau, and lengthening the terms for permanent residence eligibility, a source said yesterday. In a bid to prevent the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from infiltrating Taiwan through immigration from Hong Kong and Macau, the government could amend immigration laws for residents of the territories who currently receive preferential treatment, an official familiar with the matter speaking on condition of anonymity said. The move was part of “national security-related legislative reform,” they added. Under the amendments, arrivals from the Chinese territories would have to reside in Taiwan for
CRITICAL MOVE: TSMC’s plan to invest another US$100 billion in US chipmaking would boost Taiwan’s competitive edge in the global market, the premier said The government would ensure that the most advanced chipmaking technology stays in Taiwan while assisting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) in investing overseas, the Presidential Office said yesterday. The statement follows a joint announcement by the world’s largest contract chipmaker and US President Donald Trump on Monday that TSMC would invest an additional US$100 billion over the next four years to expand its semiconductor manufacturing operations in the US, which would include construction of three new chip fabrication plants, two advanced packaging facilities, and a research and development center. The government knew about the deal in advance and would assist, Presidential
RSS