Commission keeps mum over Lee

The Cabinet-level Financial Supervisory Commission yesterday downplayed the resignation of Lee Chin-chen (李進誠), director-general of the commission's Examination Bureau, who is under investigation for alleged corruption.

`Inappropriate'

The commission said it would be inappropriate to comment on the matter while the relative administrative procedures are ongoing.

No announcement

The commission would not make a concerted announcement about Lee's possible successor and whether to remove him to a less signifi-cant, non-executive position until tomorrow, when the situation becomes clearer, the commission's vice chairman, Lu Daung-yen (呂東英), told a press conference yesterday.

The Executive Yuan yesterday approved the official document for Lee's removal from the director-generalship. The document was submitted by the commission on Monday, after Lee lodged his verbal resignation with the commission's chairman Kong Jaw-sheng (龔照勝).

Lee had taken a week's leave prior to his resignation after Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) asked earlier this month for executive officials to abide by high moral standards.

He also requested that Lee avoid intervening in the investigation of allegations of illegal trading in Power Quotient International Co (勁永國際) shares. Lee is suspected of having been involved in the alleged illegal trading.

The prime suspect, Lin Ming-da (林明達), confessed on Monday that Lee and he knew each other, which led to more evidence against Lee.

Successor

Following Hsieh's instructions yesterday, Lee's successor must have a "clean background" and "live a simple life" while being equipped with strong investigative and case-handling capabilities, Lu said.

The commission's attitude about Lee appeared to have changed recently, leading to its approval of Lee's resignation.