HOUSING TROUBLE:：Wads of cash were found in the speaker’s office during a search, after prosecutors received a tip-off about alleged influence-peddling
By Yu Chao-fu and Sean Lin / Staff reporter, with staff writer, and CNA
Thu, Jun 19, 2014 - Page 1
Prosecutors yesterday requested the detention of Keelung City Council Speaker Huang Ching-tai (黃景泰) on suspicion of influence peddling in a number of construction projects.
The prosecution asked the Keelung District Court to grant its request following a marathon questioning session of 12 hours, saying that it was afraid Huang could flee the country or collude with others to the detriment of their case.
The detention hearing was still ongoing at press time last night.
The prosecutors said they began their probe after receiving tips that Huang was involved in pressuring Keelung City Government officials on construction projects.
The prosecutors brought in eight suspects, including Huang, for questioning on Tuesday.
At 6am yesterday, Keelung Department of Economic Affairs Fisheries Director Lin Po-shu (林柏樹), Urban Development Bureau Construction Administration Section Chief Nien Shih-meng (黏世孟) and JSL Group manager Chien Tsai-fu (簡才富) were released on NT$100,000 (US$3,325) bail each.
Construction Administration staffer Huang Kuo-chieh (黃國傑) was bailed for NT$50,000, while Building Occupation Management Section Chief Chang Lai-hsien (張來賢) and staffer Chen Chung-liang (陳忠亮) were released on NT$50,000 and NT$30,000 bail respectively. Keelung City Council General Affairs Manager Chang Wei-chih (張惟智) was relased without bail.
According to the prosecutors, they found New Taiwan dollars and Chinese renminbi totalling NT$5 million in Huang’s office on Tuesday when they conducted a search. Huang was not able to convincingly account for the cash.
Keelung Mayor Chang Tung-jung (張通榮) yesterday said he had no comment on the matter and he respects the decisions of the judicial system.
Huang, a member of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), has been nominated by the KMT as its candidate for the year-end Keelung mayoral election.
In light of the corruption allegation, rumors are rife that the party could nominate another candidate.
KMT Legislator Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑) yesterday made it clear that he would not run for the post. Former KMT legislator Ho Sheng-lung (何聖隆), meanwhile, called on the party headquarters to restart a nomination process, while calling on Huang to withdraw from the election on his own initiative.
Lin Yu-chang (林右昌), the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) candidate in the Keelung mayoral election, told a joint press conference with eight Keelung city councilors yesterday morning in Keelung: “Today could be the worst day in history for Keelung residents. It’s a disgrace and we’re all sorry about the scandal.”
“Integrity is the most important value of a mayor. As Huang is involved in a scandal at the beginning of the election campaign, I believe that all residents of Keelung would hope for a regime change to give the city a better future,” Lin said.
Meanwhile, commenting on the case, DPP New Taipei City mayoral candidate Yu Shyi-kun (游錫?) mocked the KMT, saying that its “strongest lineup of mayoral candidates comes from a series of scandals in the housing and construction projects of the Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung and Taoyuan city governments.”
Citing previous scandals involving New Taipei City Public Works Office officials allegedly patronizing prostitutes, the MeHas City corruption case implicating two former city government officials, the recent bribery allegation involving former Taoyuan County deputy commissioner Yeh Shih-wen (葉世文) and now Huang’s case, Yu said these cases had two things in common: “They are all illicit and are all aimed at driving up real-estate prices.”
Additional reporting by Chris Wang