Two former Construction and Planning Agency officials and two other suspects were on Monday indicted over their alleged involvement in a series of bribery cases relating to public infrastructure projects nationwide.
The four are former Road Engineering Division head Chang Chih-ming (張之明) and former division section chief Chan Chia-hsin (詹加欣), a construction contractor named Chen Teng-lai (陳登來) and Chang Teng-lung (張騰龍), who served as chief office assistant to a lawmaker, the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said.
The men were indicted on charges ranging from accepting and giving bribes in contravention of the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例) to leaking secret public information unrelated to national defense in contravention of the Criminal Code.
Photo: Chien Li-chung, Taipei Times
Prosecutors last month launched an investigation into alleged bid-rigging, the leaking of tender information and bribery at the agency, and authorities raided 22 locations.
Chang Teng-lung and Chang Chih-ming were later detained, while Chan was released on NT$500,000 (US$15,682) bail after questioning. The two officials were removed from their posts during the investigation.
Many of the bribery cases were linked to Chen, who came into contact with Chang Chih-ming through Chang Teng-lung, prosecutors said.
In 2017, when the central government began promoting its Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program, Chen, who operates a construction company, signaled his interest in taking part in the public projects.
Chang Chih-ming, taking advantage of his position, ensured that contractors such as Chen passed the evaluation process and secured public projects covering road construction, maintenance and other projects across the nation, prosecutors said.
With his help, Chen was awarded 73 road improvement projects spanning from Pingtung County to Yunlin County, prosecutors said, adding that Chang Chih-ming and Chang Teng-lung each received kickbacks from Chen for the projects he was awarded.
Prosecutors also alleged that since April 2020, Chang Chih-ming and Chan have been involved in a bidding project at the agency where they received bribes from contractors and were treated to lavish dinners and parties with hostesses.
In Monday’s indictment, prosecutors said they were seeking a 25-year jail sentence for Chang Chih-ming, who allegedly received NT$75.67 million through bribes and other illicit gains.
However, they asked that the court consider reducing the sentences for Chan and Chang Teng-lung, as both admitted their wrongdoings or surrendered their illicit gains.
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