Convicted hoodlum and former independent lawmaker Lo Fu-chu (羅福助) and two former colleagues yesterday lost appeals against convictions for a 1998 assault on a DPP legislator -- and had their sentences increased to boot.
The Taiwan High Court (台灣高等法院) sentenced Lo and former KMT lawmakers Lin Ming-I (林明義) and Chou Wu-liu (周五六) to five months in prison, with the option to pay a fine of NT$135,000 instead.
Lo, Lin and Chou were originally convicted in March of last year for assaulting DPP Legislator Yu Jan-daw (余政道), causing him bodily harm, during a legislative session on June 15, 1998. At the time, the Taipei District Court (台北地方法院) sentenced them to 59 days in prison or a fine of NT$53,100.
Sitting legislators enjoy immunity from arrest and imprisonment unless a majority of legislators vote otherwise, but they can be prosecuted. Proceedings against Lo, Lin and Chou were initiated after Yu pressed charges.
Dismissing their appeals and handing down an extension of their sentences, yesterday's verdict said that Lo, Lin and Chou had no right -- especially as lawmakers -- to assault people over differences of opinion. It said that they had brought Taiwan's legislature into disrepute and shown no remorse.
In addition, the judges ruled that the verdicts were final, precluding further appeals to the Supreme Court (
Lo's, Lin's and Chou's terms as lawmakers, and hence their legislative immunity, officially ended with the end of the legislative term at midnight yesterday.
Lo's lawyer, Tu Ying-ta (
"Lo has made clear that he would do whatever it takes to solve the problems and misunderstandings between Yu and himself," Tu said. "Lo has said that he did not do it on purpose and he has apologized to Yu. Since this verdict is final, he will pay the fine in accordance with the decision of the court."
Lo is the subject of three additional criminal investigations, including his assault on PFP lawmaker Diane Lee (
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