Investigators visited the Hsinchu Baseball Stadium today to collect evidence, following allegations of illegally dumped construction waste and possible corruption.
The Chinese-language Mirror Media news outlet reported that a large amount of concrete that had been mixed with plastic products, abandoned electrical wires, red bricks and other construction materials was discovered when excavating the outfield, which could potentially contravene the Waste Disposal Act (廢棄物清理法).
The finding has furthered suspicions first raised in October last year that city officials had given illegal benefits to a contractor during the stadium’s multi-year renovation project completed in 2022, potentially contravening the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例), although investigators would still need to clarify this, the report said.
Photo courtesy of the Hsinchu District Prosecutors’ Office via CNA
The Hsinchu City Government also found in 2023 that the stadium had a faulty drainage system and its surface was unsuitable for players.
The investigation would be led by chief prosecutor Hung Sung-piao (洪松標) and the Hsinchu branch of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau, which would investigate and potentially prosecute the matter under separate cases, the Hsinchu District Prosecutors’ Office said.
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