Different strokes
Former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) sentence for embezzling state funds has been reduced to 20 years in prison and a NT$170 million (US$5.2 million) fine. Former first lady Wu Shu-jen’s (吳淑珍) sentence was also reduced to 20 years and a NT$200 million fine. Nine others, including their son and daughter-in-law, were also sentenced and fined.
In contrast, a court decision last month allowed People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) to legally withdraw the NT$240 million related to the Chung Hsing Bills Finance case he had deposited with the Taipei District Court in 2000. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is also laying claim to this money. Prosecutors had dropped all charges against Soong. His sister-in-law is also allegedly involved in the case, but, like Soong, is still free.
A few years ago, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) was charged with pocketing money from the Taipei City mayoral office fund. He immediately donated the money to charities, declared his candidacy for the presidency and was later acquitted by the court. Ma is now president and KMT chairman.
Based on the above cases, it can be concluded that there are different verdicts and fates for different embezzlers — possibly depending on their political affiliations.
The embezzled funds could be considered state funds, party funds, political contributions or personal funds, depending on the mood of the judges. The embezzlers are acquitted if they donate the embezzled money to charities and run for political office.
It is strongly recommended that Chen and Wu donate their embezzled funds to charities and unemployed workers. If their embezzled funds include political contributions, these should be returned to the Democratic Progressive Party. If they do these things, the courts should at least waive their fines. Ma should also return, as he has promised, the vast KMT assets stolen from the people of Taiwan.
CHARLES HONG
Columbus, Ohio
Taiwan’s World Cup dreams
An article in the Taipei Times last week commented on how Ma intends to get Taiwan onto the world stage in soccer, in particular, to help Taiwan qualify for the World Cup in the future (“Taiwan using recyclable materials for soccer shirts,” June 10, page 2).
The government intends to budget NT$200 million (US$6.2 million) for the project. The article tells us how the funds will be spent on hiring foreign coaches to train local coaches and how it will produce a team capable of qualifying for the World Cup.
After this, however, I read that Houjing Elementary School in Kaohsiung City might not be able to attend a competition it qualified for in Hungary due to a lack of funds (“Difficulty for soccer team raising funds to play in Hungary,” June 14, page 2).
The Kaohsiung City government has pledged NT$1 million, but that still leaves the team about NT$1.5 million short. The parents and players have been raising funds by selling cookies and cellphone gadgets to try and raise money for the trip.
What a sad reflection on the central government’s so-called determination to develop soccer in Taiwan. Is the government really serious about developing the world’s most popular sport or is it just to grab some headlines because the world is focused on South Africa and this year’s World Cup?
A wise man once said “actions speak louder than words.” I have heard these kinds of stories before.
Former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) once said that Taiwan should send a group of young players to Brazil so they could learn how to play the beautiful game and raise Taiwan’s world profile through soccer.
Until Taiwan can develop a grassroots sports culture, that is, sports at all levels, elementary through to professional, I’m sorry to say that all these reports are just empty words. Let’s see some action!
For starters, give some of that funding to Houjing School.
NICK POND
Kaohsiung City
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